ANTIBACTERIAL AND ANTIBIOFILM ACTIVITIES OF PEPPERMINT (MENTHA PIPERITA LINN) AND MENTHOL MINT (MENTHA ARVENSIS LINN) ESSENTIAL OILS ON AGGREGATIBACTER ACTINOMYCETEMCOMITANS ISOLATED FROM ORODENTAL INFECTIONS.

Ramanath Karicheri and Beena Antony*

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans is one of the key pathogen associated with periodontal diseases as well as systemic infections. Giving importance to the higher incidence rate of periodontitis and resistance among oral bacteria to antibiotics, there is a need for alternate treatment regimen especially from natural resources. The main objective of the present study was to elucidate antibacterial and antibiofilm potential of the essential oils of Mentha piperita Linn and Mentha arvensis Linn against A.actinomycetemcomitans isolated from patients with orodental infections. Methodology: Essential oils of Mentha piperita Linn and Mentha arvensis Linn leaves were distilled in Clevenger’s apparatus by Neo-Clevenger’s method. Antimicrobial action was determined by disc diffusion method. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined by microbroth dilution technique. Tissue culture plate method was employed for demonstration of antibiofilm activity. Results: 77.9% and 76.5% of the isolates showed antibacterial activity against Mentha piperita Linn and Mentha arvensis Linn essential oils respectively by disc diffusion methods. The MIC ranged between 3.125μl/ml to 12.5μl/ml. The minimum biofilm inhibition concentration (BIC50) was achieved at 100l/ml concentration for both the essential oils Conclusion: Essential oils of M.piperita and M.arvensis showed good antibacterial as well as antibiofilm activity at low concentrations and can be considered as an alternate treatment option for the control of periodontitis by A.actinomycetemcomitans.

Keywords: Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Mentha piperita, Mentha arvensis, Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), biofilm inhibition concentration (BIC50).