Evaluation of Antibacterial Efficacy of Cinnamomum Burmanii Leaf Essential Oil in Toothpaste Formulation Against Streptococcus Mutans: An Experimental Study

Abstract

Background: Traditional cinnamon bark harvesting practices often discard valuable leaves, neglecting their potential benefits such as essential oil with antibacterial properties. Previous studies have highlighted the antibacterial effects of Cinnamomum burmannii leaves from Indonesia, including their potential as antibacterial agents. The study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial effect of Cinnamomum burmanii leaf essential oil in toothpaste formulation against Streptococcus mutans Method: This quasi-experimental study compared the antibacterial effectiveness of toothpaste containing essential oil with Streptococcus mutans cultures in Brain-heart Infusion Broth (BHIB) overnight. Six wells were created on agar plates using sterile 6 mm punches. Each well was filled with the following: Positive control (Chlorhexidine), pure essential oil, 100% essential oil toothpaste, 75% diluted essential oil toothpaste, 50% diluted essential oil toothpaste, and negative control (aquadest). The diameter of inhibition zones was measured after incubating all plates at 36°C for 24 hours. Result: The inhibition zone diameter was measured to evaluate the effectiveness of essential oil toothpaste against dental plaque bacteria. Non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis statistical analysis revealed no significant difference in the diameter produced between Cinnamomum zeylanicum leaf essential oil and the positive control minosep (p=0.10). However, after formulation into toothpaste, a significant decrease in effectiveness was observed (p=0.015). Conclusion: It can be concluded that cinnamon leaf essential oil is effective in inhibiting the growth of Streptococcus mutans bacteria. However, when formulated into toothpaste, its effectiveness decreases with lower concentrations of the toothpaste dilution.