Antimicrobial synergy of Salvadora persica, clove, and propolis against oral pathogens: Relevance to dental applications

Abstract

Background: The use of natural plant extracts to combat pathogenic bacteria offers a promising
approach to preventing microbial resistance. This study explores the synergistic antimicrobial effects
of Salvadora persica, propolis, and clove extracts against Candida albicans and Streptococcus mutans.
Materials and Methods: This was an in vitro experimental study designed to evaluate the
antimicrobial activity and synergistic interactions of ethanol extracts of S. persica, clove, and
propolis against S. mutans and C. albicans using agar dilution and checkerboard assays. The chemical
composition of the extracts was analyzed using Soxhlet and accelerated solvent extraction methods,
followed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis.
Results: The minimum inhibitory concentration values for S. persica, clove, and propolis against
S. mutans were 4.5 mg/ml, 9 mg/ml, and 2.2 mg/ml, respectively, and for C. albicans, 4.5 mg/ml for
S. persica and clove, and 1.1 mg/ml for propolis. Combinations of these extracts demonstrated
synergistic effects with fractional inhibitory concentration indexes ranging from 0.3 to 1.5 against
both pathogens.
Conclusion: These results suggest that combining plant extracts with propolis may offer an effective
strategy for treating oral infections. Given the role of S. mutans in dental caries, these findings support
the potential use of these natural compounds in preventive and therapeutic dental applications.
Key Words: Antibacterial effect, Candida albicans, medicinal plants, Streptococcus mutans,
synergistic effects

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Farzaneh Sotoudegan: Pubmed,Google Scholar