Stevia is a non-caloric sweetener mostly used for medicinal and dental purposes as it is found in mouth rinse and chewing
gums due to its decreased cariogenic and demineralizing potential. Ficus benghalensis (banyan tree) was used in a
previous study to prepare an ethanolic extract to analyze its antimicrobial efficacy among gram negative and gram positive
bacterium and it was found to be a potent antimicrobial and antiseptic against the infection caused by gram positive and
gram negative bacteria. Stevia and Ficus benghalensis plants were collected and hexane extract was prepared, using the
prepared extract mouthwash with which cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activity was checked. The antibacterial activity of
the prepared mouthwash was confirmed by the zone of inhibition formed against Lactobacillus sp., Streptococcus mutans
and cytotoxicity tested and the death and inhibition of growth of the organisms was observed only in higher concentrations
of 40 and 80µl which were comparatively higher than citronella oil. Stevia and Ficus benghalensis hexane extract based
mouthwash has potent antimicrobial and anti cariogenicity which can be patented and used for maintaining oral hygiene
Key words: antimicrobial, banyan tree, cytotoxicity, Stevia, Ficus benghalensis, hexane, mouthwash
|
