Use of Plantago major (Broadleaf plantain) as a natural method for pacifier disinfection

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the hydroalcoholic extract of Plantago major in controlling biofilm formation on pacifiers used by children attending daycare centers in Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The study was conducted in three phases. In the first phase, extracts of P. major, Punica granatum, and Camellia sinensis were tested against oral microorganisms (Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans) using the agar diffusion method. The second phase involved a pilot study with pacifier-using children (n = 4) to assess the extracts' effectiveness in biofilm control. In the third phase, an expanded study with additional children (n = 9) was conducted to further evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of P. major extract on pacifiers. In the first phase, P. major extract exhibited inhibition zones of 19.5 ± 0.9 mm for S. mutans and 10.2 ± 1.5 mm for C. albicans. P. granatum inhibited only C. albicans (14.3 ± 0.8 mm), while C. sinensis showed no inhibition. In the second phase, P. major demonstrated the highest biofilm inhibition (51.8 %), followed by C. sinensis (43.23 %) and P. granatum (40.08 %). In the third phase, P. major extract exhibited inhibition rates ranging from 4.52 % to 100 %, with an average of 38.24 %. A socioeconomic questionnaire administered to the children's guardians revealed that 35.71 % belonged to class C1, 21.42 % to class C2, 21.42 % to class B2, and 21.42 % to classes D and E. Given that many families have limited financial resources to purchase commercial products, P. major extract presents a viable and cost-effective alternative for pacifier disinfection.