comparison of antioxidant, cytotoxic, and antibacterial (against ) effects of , extracts, and essential oils.

BACKGROUND

This study compared the antioxidant, cytotoxic, and antibacterial effects of peel and leaf hydroalcoholic extracts and essential oils.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this study, the antibacterial effect of the and extracts and essential oils was evaluated on () by the agar diffusion test. Their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined by the broth microdilution method. Their cytotoxicity against human gingival fibroblasts was evaluated by the methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay in 24 and 72 h, and their antioxidant effect was assessed by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey's test ( < 0.05).

RESULTS

The hydroalcoholic extract and essential oils had significant antibacterial effects on . The highest and lowest growth inhibition zones belonged to essential oils (40.0 ± 0.0 mm) and extract (32.3 ± 2.2 mm), respectively. The MIC and MBC were 0.78 v/v% for extract and 6.25% for essential oils. Unlike the essential oils (1%, 5%, and 10% v/v), none of the extracts showed significant cytotoxicity at low concentrations (1% v/v). All essential oils and extracts, particularly and extracts, had significant antioxidant effects.

CONCLUSION

Of the tested materials, extract had the highest potential for possible use as an organic mouthwash due to its strong antibacterial and antioxidant effects and absence of cytotoxicity in low concentrations.