Determination of the antibiofilm property of aqueous extract of the Amorphophallus paeoniifolius on some early and late colonizers in an artificially synthesized dental biofilm - An in vitro study.

Background: Mechanical therapy along with adjunctive therapy, using agents like chlorhexidine digluconate mouthwash helps to disrupt the plaque biofilm. Recently, herbs with medicinal value have been tested for their antimicrobial properties. The present study was designed to assess the anti-biofilm activity of Amorphophallus paeoniifolius against some periodontal pathogens in an artificially synthesized dental biofilm.

Materials and methods: The aqueous extract of A. paeoniifolius was constituted and its minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against standard strains of some periodontal pathogens was determined. A total of 21 biofilm samples were synthesized on extracted teeth and microtiter plates, and these were divided into two groups of 10 samples each. One group was treated with the predetermined MIC values of A. paeoniifolius, while the other group was treated with chlorhexidine. The anti-biofilm activity of both compounds was assessed by calculating colony-forming units (CFUs) for the extracted teeth and optical density (OD) values for the microtiter plates.

Results: The mean CFU at baseline was 55,000/μl while posttreatment with chlorhexidine digluconate and aqueous extract of A. paeoniifolius was 23,280 ± 5274.00 and 28,560 ± 4509.545/μl, respectively. The mean OD value (at 595 nm) posttreatment with chlorhexidine digluconate was 0.9876 ± 0.49179 and A. paeoniifolius was 1.4990 ± 0.37851. Results indicate that the aqueous extract of A. paeoniifolius showed an inhibitory effect on biofilm obtained on microtiter plates and the one constituted on extracted teeth.

Conclusion: Anti-biofilm activity of aqueous extract of A. paeoniifolius was appreciable and also comparable to that of chlorhexidine digluconate, both on extracted teeth and microtiter plates.