The Antimicrobial Effect of Coconut Oil and its Fatty Acids on Oral Microorganisms Compared to Chlorhexidine Mouth Rinse: An in vitro Study.
Al ISMAIL, MARIA.
2014
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Abstract: Aim: Due to the antiseptic characteristic of its main ingredients (monolauric and monocapric fatty acids), coconut oil poses a promising natural antibacterial alternative to chemically-based mouth rinses to fight cariogenic oral microorganisms. Several studies have shown the antimicrobial activity of its fatty acids against different oral biofilm. Although there is some research on coconut ... read moreoil's antibacterial efficacy, more research is needed to investigate its efficacy against the main cariogenic bacteria (Streptococcus mutans, Lactobasillus fermentum, and Streptococcus mitis) in comparison with its pure fatty acids and a commercially available mouth rinse, chlorhexidine. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial effect of coconut oil in comparison to monolauric acid, monocarpic acid, and chlorhexidine on selected oral microorganisms (Streptococcus mutans, Lactobacillus fermentum, Streptococcus mitis). Methods: The antimicrobial activity of coconut oil, the fatty acids and chlorhexidine was examined using two methods: serial dilution and plate counting method and agar-well diffusion method. Colony forming units were calculated by counting the colonies on the plates after incubation at 37°°°C for 24 to 48 hours. The inhibition zone was determined by measuring the diameter around each well after incubating with each solution for 24 hours at 37°°°C. Incubations were performed in aerobic conditions. Results: Results of this in vitro study showed that coconut oil, monocapric acid, and monolauric acid have appreciable antimicrobial activity against three types of strains of oral microorganisms associated with oral infections; S. mutans, Lactobacillus fermentum, and S. mitis. Using one-way ANOVA, the results from the serial dilution method were statistically significant for S. mutans (p-value ≤Lactobacillus fermentum (p-value ≤S. mitis (p-value=0.005). Similarly, the results from the agar-well diffusion method were statistically significant for S. mutans (p-value=0.003), Lactobacillus fermentum (p-value ≤S. mitis (p-value ≤Conclusion: Coconut oil has potential to be used as an antimicrobial agent in mouth rinses to reduce cariogenic microorganisms in the oral cavity. Future studies should be specifically designed to examine the potential biological role of coconut oil and its fatty acids in the characteristics of oral biofilm formation and biofilm dynamics.
Thesis (M.S.)--Tufts University, 2014.
Submitted to the Dept. of Other.
Advisor: Tofool Alghanem.
Committee: Driss Zoukhri, Addy Alt Holland, and Paul Stark.
Keywords: Dentistry, and Microbiology.read less - ID:
- gb19fj11k
- Component ID:
- tufts:20205
- To Cite:
- TARC Citation Guide EndNote
