Comparative Evaluation of the Antimicrobial Efficacy of Anethum Graveolens Gel with Chlorhexidine Gel against Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum- an in vitro study

Periodontitis is an infection of the periodontium caused by a group of specific microorganisms, resulting in progressive destruction of the periodontal ligament and alveolar bone.Initial treatment for periodontitis is mechanical scaling and root planing, but this does not cause sufficient reduction of the bacterial load due to lack of accessibility to microorganisms. The incorporation of an adjunctive chemotherapeutic agent enhances the outcome at sites which are not responsive to conventional therapy. Chlorhexidine is regarded as the gold standard for local drug delivery systems; however, it has been associated with undesirable side effects, including tooth staining, xerostomia, and calculus formation. This has given rise to an increased demand for herbal medicine, as it is associated with fewer side effects and is cost-effective. Anethum graveolens, which contains natural phytochemicals, is a well-known herbal remedy with therapeutic properties. The present in-vitro microbiological study was therefore undertaken to evaluate and compare the antimicrobial activity of Anethum graveolens gel with Chlorhexidine gel for Aa,Pg and Fn.The MIC and MBC of the ethanolic extract of Anethum graveolens against standard ATCC bacterial strains of A.a, P.g and F.n were determined using the broth dilution method and streaking on blood agar plates. The antimicrobial activity of the prepared Anethum graveolens gel was evaluated and compared with Chlorhexidine gel using the agar well diffusion assay. The zone of inhibition for Chlorhexidine gel was found to be 15.6 mm, 17 mm and 15.3 mm for A.a, P.g and F.n, respectively, whereas for A. graveolens gel, it was 12.6 mm, 13 mm and 12 mm for 24. A.a, P.g and F.n, respectively. The results obtained suggested that Chlorhexidine gel exhibited a marginally superior antimicrobial activity in comparison to the Anethum graveolens gel against Aa, Pg and Fn.