Journal List > J Korean Acad Oral Health > v.42(4) > 1122284

Park and Yoon: Anti-bacterial effects of lavender and peppermint oils on Streptococcus mutans

Abstract

Objectives

The main objectives of this study were to verify the antibacterial activity of two essential oils, lavender and peppermint, against dental caries and to review their synergistic effect when used in combination. Our results provide basic data for the evaluation of the use of these two substances towards the prevention and cure of dental caries.

Methods

The sample solutions of lavender and peppermint oils were prepared in three different concentrations (30%, 50%, and 70% (v/v)) by diluting them with third-distilled water and Tween 20. Streptococcus mutans was selected as the bacterial species for testing. The disk diffusion method was used to measure the antibacterial activity of the sample solutions. For generating growth curves and measuring the number of clusters of the bacterial, the liquid medium-dilution method was used; the absorbance of the medium was measured at 600 nm after 3, 6, 12 and 24 hours.

Results

When the antibacterial activity of the oils was tested via the disk diffusion method, the activity improved with increasing concentrations of all the sample solutions of peppermint, lavender, and the blend, but there was no significant difference between them with respect to the type of oil. In the growth curves of S. mutans, growth inhibition was observed after 12 hours. The inhibitory effect of 30% lavender oil on growth was 64.9% and 80.1% after 12 and 24 hours of treatment, respectively whereas that of peppermint oil was 71.3% and 80.1% after 12 and 24 hours of treatment, respectively. The inhibitory effect of the blended oil was 71.9% and 81.0% after 12 and 24 hours of treatment, respectively.

Conclusions

Further research is still required in order to determine the efficacy of lavender and peppermint oils, as well as other essential oils, for wider use in preventing dental caries.

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Fig. 1.
Comparison of anti-microbial activity of Lavender, Peppermint, Blending oil against S. mutans.
jkaoh-42-210f1.tif
Fig. 2.
Growth curves of S. mutans cultured at different concentration of lavender (A), peppermint (B) and blending essential oil (C).
jkaoh-42-210f2.tif
Fig. 3.
Formated CFU of S. mutans by essential oils concentration.
jkaoh-42-210f3.tif
Table 1.
Antimicrobial activity of lavender and peppermint essential oils against S. mutans (unit; mm)
Essential oil (%, v/v)
30 50 70 P
Lavender 5.77±1.40a 7.82±1.29a,b 9.64±1.08b 7.034 (0.027)
Peppermint 5.49±0.97a 7.66±0.51b 9.83±0.45c 30.153 (0.001)
Blending 5.35±0.95a 7.20±0.49a 9.63±1.30b 14.676 (0.005)
Table 2.
Growth inhibition of S. mutans in accordance with essential oils concentration
Essential oil (%, v/v)
30 50 70 P
Lavender 14.67±1.53b 2.33±1.53a 1.33±0.58a 99.267 (<0.001)
Peppermint t 16.33±1.53c 6.67±1.15b 2.33±0.58a 115.583 (<0.001)
Blending 69.33±5.13c 21.00±2.65b 10.00±1.00a 261.155 (<0.001)
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