EFFECT OF PUNICA GRANATUM L. FLOWER WATER EXTRACT ON FIVE COMMON ORAL BACTERIA AND BACTERIAL BIOFILM FORMATION ON ORTHODONTIC WIRE

IntroductionUse of medicinal plants for treatment of diseases has centuries of history. At present, although a significant portion of drugs is chemical, it is estimated that at least one third of drugs either are plant-derived medicinal products or have a modified botanical origin. Nutritional and medicinal value of the edible plants has always been the focus of attention of the mankind (1). Tunica granatnm L., commonly known as pomegranate is a shrub or small tree of Asia belonging to the family Punicaceae. The plant grows 5-8 meters tall. It is originated to Iran and has long been cultivated in the Mediterranean region of Asia, Europe and Africa. P. granatum L. is rich in bioactive compounds used for the treatment of a wide range of illnesses like cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, dental diseases, bacterial infections, skin damage due to UV radiation, diarrhea, hemorrhoids, and as a mouthwash for some cases of sore throat. The medicinal parts of the plant include its flowers, bark, fruits, roots and seeds. Bark and roots are used for treatment of parasitic infections, dried flowers of the plant are used for treatment of bronchitis, diarrhea and bloody diarrhea, and its tisane is used for treatment of inflammation of the throat and mouth. Flowers of P. granatum L. have long been suggested in ancient Greek literatures an astringent and homeostatic agent and been recommended for treatment of diabetes (2, 3).Presence of orthodontic bands and wires in mouth results in accumulation of bacterial plaque because of more difficulties to maintain dental care. Furthermore, orthodontic appliances cause a physico-chemical change in the microbial flora of the oral cavity resulting in increased number of cariogenic microorganisms (4, 5). Although oral health has significantly improved in developed countries, oral diseases are still a constant concern. Dental caries affect more than 90% of school-aged children and most of the adults (6). Dental plaque (yellow, sticky and soft biofilm on tooth surface) is a factor responsible for an increase in the incidence of most common oral diseases i.e. dental caries and periodontal disease (7, 8). Oral streptococcus species are recognized as the first plaque-forming bacteria. Streptococcus sanguinis comprises 20-50% of dental plaque and appears to be the first plaque-forming microorganism responsible for maturation of dental plaque (7, 9). Streptococcus salivarlas is a common colonizer of oral mucosal surfaces especially in the dorsal aspect of the tongue, buccal mucosa, and saliva (7, 10). Streptococcus matans2.nd S. sobrinas play an important role in development of caries. The cariogenic proper-ties of these bacteria are attributed to the production of insoluble glucans from sucrose, the ability to adhere to tooth surfaces and their acidogenicity(ll). Various antibacterial products are commercially available on the market. Chlorhexidine is the most common product of this category (12). Apart from the wide range of antibacterial effects of this mouthwash, it carries some disadvantages as well including the discoloration of teeth, tongue and restorations, unfavorable taste, burning sensation and dryness due to the desquamation of oral mucosa, calculus formation, parotid swelling and rash (12-14).To date, no study has evaluated the antibacterial properties of P. granatum L. water extract and its effect on bacterial biofilm formation on orthodontic wires. Therefore, the present study was designed aiming at in-vitro assessment of the effect of P. granatum L. water extract on 5 common oral bacteria and bacterial biofilm formation on orthodontic wire. After procuring the water extract of P. granatum L., its antibacterial effects were evaluated on 5 common oral bacteria via determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and then the magnitude of the inhibitory effect of P. granatum L. on bacterial biofilm formation on orthodontic wire was studied. …