Pallavi Preeti, Sahoo Pragnya Paramita, Sahoo Adyasha Anapurba, Sen Sudip Kumar, Raut Sangeeta
School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Centre for Biotechnology, Siksha 'O' Anusandhan (Deemed to be University), Bhubaneswar, 751003, Odisha, India.
Coastal Aquaculture Research Institute Private Limited, Chennai, 600041, Tamil Nadu, India.
Sci Rep. 2025 Aug 24;15(1):31118. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-16877-7.
Oral pathogens contribute to dental caries and other infections affecting oral health. To address concerns related to the adverse effects of chemical mouthwashes like chlorhexidine (CHX), this study introduces a novel herbal mouthwash formulated with green-synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) infused with Cymbopogon citratus essential oil (CEO). Unlike traditional formulations, this herbal mouthwash aims to offer a safer, eco-friendly alternative. Four formulations (F1-F4) with varying concentrations of CEOZnONPs were evaluated for in vitro antibacterial and anti-biofilm activities against Streptococcus mutans, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli. The F4 formulation demonstrated superior antibacterial efficacy, with inhibition zones of 64.2 ± 2.6 mm for S. mutans, 43.6 ± 1.0 mm for S. aureus, and 31.8 ± 1.5 mm for E. coli, and achieved 97.12% biofilm inhibition of S. mutans. Additionally, in vivo toxicity was assessed using embryonic zebrafish, showing a high survival rate of 93% for F1 and 82% for F4 after 24 hours, compared to 65% for CHX, indicating lower toxicity. This preclinical study shows that the F4 formulation exhibited promising antibacterial and safety profiles, highlighting its potential as a safe, natural oral care product targeting diverse oral pathogens with reduced toxicity. Further research, including in vivo and clinical trials, is needed to validate its effectiveness and safety for regular dental care use. The herbal mouthwash formulated with CEOZnONPs demonstrates strong antibacterial and anti-biofilm effects with lower toxicity, making it a promising natural alternative for oral hygiene. Its safer profile compared to CHX may reduce side effects in patients, potentially enhancing compliance in oral care regimens.
口腔病原体可导致龋齿和其他影响口腔健康的感染。为了解决与洗必泰（CHX）等化学漱口水的不良影响相关的问题，本研究推出了一种新型草本漱口水，其配方为注入了柠檬香茅精油（CEO）的绿色合成氧化锌纳米颗粒（ZnONPs）。与传统配方不同，这种草本漱口水旨在提供一种更安全、环保的替代品。对四种含有不同浓度CEO-ZnONPs的配方（F1-F4）针对变形链球菌、金黄色葡萄球菌和大肠杆菌的体外抗菌和抗生物膜活性进行了评估。F4配方表现出卓越的抗菌效果，对变形链球菌的抑菌圈为64.2±2.6毫米，对金黄色葡萄球菌为43.6±1.0毫米，对大肠杆菌为31.8±1.5毫米，并实现了对变形链球菌97.12%的生物膜抑制率。此外，使用斑马鱼胚胎评估了体内毒性，结果显示，24小时后F1的存活率为93%，F4为82%，而CHX为65%，表明其毒性较低。这项临床前研究表明，F4配方具有良好的抗菌和安全性，突出了其作为一种安全、天然的口腔护理产品针对多种口腔病原体且毒性降低具有的潜力。需要进一步开展包括体内和临床试验在内的研究，以验证其在常规口腔护理使用中的有效性和安全性。含有CEO-ZnONPs的草本漱口水具有强大的抗菌和抗生物膜作用且毒性较低，使其成为口腔卫生领域一种有前景的天然替代品。与CHX相比，其更安全的特性可能会减少患者的副作用，潜在地提高口腔护理方案的依从性。
