Methods: Essential oil extracted from the twigs of Citrus aurantium by steam distillation was evaluated for antimicrobial property.The cariogenic microorganisms used in the study was Streptococcus mutans ATCC 25175,Lactobacillus casei ATCC 6363 and Candida albicans ATCC 10231. Agar disc diffusion method was employed in the study for antimicrobial evaluation.
Results: C. aurantium oil was shown to have the zones of inhibition against S. mutans, L. casei and C. albicans at 35 mm, 10 mm and 30 mm, respectively.
Conclusions: Data from our study shows that essential oil extracted from the twigs of C. aurantium is a potent antimicrobial agent against cariogenic microorganisms. This finding suggests that the oil may have a potential for clinical application in the prevention or treatment of dental caries.