Antibacterial Property of Novel Chemo-mechanical Caries Removal Agents Containing Pineapple Crown Leaf and Peel Extracts against Cariogenic Bacteria: An In vitro Study

Background: The present study explores the antibacterial property of a pineapple crown leaf extract (PCLE) and pineapple peel extract (PPE)-based novel chemomechanical caries removal (CMCR) agents against cariogenic bacteria. Materials and Methods: After initial screening of antibacterial property using well-diffusion method, CMCR agents containing 5% PCLE and PPE were used to test its antibacterial property in terms of cytoplasmic leakage, protein leakage, and nuclear leakage against Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus acidophilus . The results of all assays were expressed as optical density (OD) based on the absorbance at specific wavelength. Time kill curve assay was carried out to assess whether there was a time and dose-dependent antibacterial activity for the tested products. For all assays, papain-based CMCR agent was maintained as the standard control. Intergroup comparison of OD values was carried out using Kruskall–Wallis followed by post hoc analysis. Results: For S. mutans , cytoplasmic leakage and DNA leakage were higher for Test Group 1 (PCLE) when compared to Test group 2 (PPE) and standard control while protein leakage was higher for Test group 2 when compared to standard control. For L. acidophilus , protein leakage was higher for both the test groups when compared to standard control while DNA leakage was more for Test group 1 when compared to standard control. Time kill curve analysis showed that Test group 1 had better time kill. Conclusions: PCLE- and PPE-based CMCR agents have better antibacterial property than the standard control in terms of cytoplasmic leakage, protein leakage, DNA leakage, and time kill curve assay.