[Effects of garlic on oral bacteriostasis and root detoxification]

To evaluate the pharmacologic effect of garlic on oral bacteriostasis and root detoxification.

Eight representative oral anaerobes (58 strains) including Streptococcus (9), Peptococcus (4), Lactobacillus (6), Actinomyces (3), Veillonella (10), Porphyromonas (12), Prevatella (3), Fusobacterium (11) to garlic juice were systematically studied by classical tube susceptibility test. The periodontally involved roots (12) were selected and the slices (6 mm x 3 mm x 1 mm) were prepared on the exposed root surface. Six slices were randomly treated by garlic juice for 5 minutes; the other six slices were treated by normal saline with same method as control. The attachment of cultured L-fibroblasts to the treated root surface was observed under phase contrast microscope and electron scanning microscope. The attachment cells were statistically analyzed using SPSS10.0 software package for Student's t test.

The minimal inhibitory concentration of garlic juice on most oral anaerobes (87.93%) was 1:64-1:512. The attachment L-fibroblasts to the garlic treated group increased significantly vs. the control group (P<0.05).

The study shows that garlic juice could effectively inhibit oral anaerobes and reestablish the root biological adaptation.