Effect of Essential oil from Zingiber officinale on Biofilms of Streptococcus mutans

Objectives: Streptococcus mutans is known as a key causative agent of dental caries. It metabolizes dietary carbohydrate to produce acids, which reduces the environmental pH leading to tooth demineralization. S. mutans is a bacterium that is known to play a significant role in the formation of dental plaques and caries in humans. S. mutans produces glucosytransferase that synthesizes water- insoluble glucan, one of the bacterial extracellular polysaccharide (EPS), from the sucrose contain in foods. Some agents have been studied for the prevention of dental plaque formation. But, these agents are not sufficiently effective to prevent dental plaque. Some agents (fluoride, chlorhexidine vb) are effective. However, they are known as cytotoxic at concentration over certain amount. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of essential oil of Zingiber officinale against S. mutans and biofilm formations of S. mutans.
Methods:
Z. officinale (Ginger rhizom) was purchased from local market of Eskişehir, TURKEY. The essential oils were extracted by Clevenger type apparatus, for 3hours. The MIC of the essential oils was determined in BHI broth using a broth microdilution method in the 96-well microtitre plates. The inhibitory effect of essential oil of Z. officinale on biofilm formation by S. mutans was performed microtitre plate. Biofilm formation of S. mutans is investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
Results: Z. officinale essential oil inhibited growth of S. mutans. The biofilm formation of S. mutans was found to be reduced with essential oil of Z. officinale.
Conclusions: In conclusion, the essential oil of Z. officinale may play important role reducing pathogenesis of cariogenic properties of S. mutans.