Comparison of the Antibacterial Effectiveness of <i>Achyranthes aspera</i> Extract vs. Tetracycline - An <i>In Vitro</i> Investigation

Background: Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease of microbial origin, affecting the tooth supporting structures. Various chemical agents have been used to modulate this disease; however, the side effects are found to outweigh the benefits. Of late, various herbal agents have been experimented to assess its efficacy to treat periodontitis. One among them is Achyranthes aspera, an herb that possess antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory property. Therefore, we conducted a pilot study to evaluate its antibacterial properties. Aim: To assess the antibacterial effectiveness of A. aspera against periodontitis causing pathogens (Prevotella intermedia and Porphyromonas gingivalis) in an in vitro setting and to compare its effectiveness with that of tetracycline. Methods: Bacterial strains were cultured and inoculated into A. aspera extract plate and tetracycline plate. The plates were incubated at 37°C, and the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) were determined for both. Results: The inhibition zones produced by A. aspera at a concentration of 50 mg/ml measured 2.4±0.02 mm and 2.8±0.22 mm in diameter for P. gingivalis and P. intermedia, respectively. At 100 mg/ml, the inhibition zones increased to 5.6±0.43 mm and 6.1±1.3 mm for P. gingivalis and P. intermedia, respectively. Tetracycline at 30 µg, positive control showed inhibition zones of 14.9±1.1 mm and 15.6 ±1.2 mm in diameter for P. gingivalis and P. intermedia, respectively. Major Findings: A. aspera extracts have shown substantial inhibition of periodontal pathogenic bacteria in in vitro experiments making it to be considered a promising alternative for anti-infective therapy.