Comparative antiplaque activity of sanguinarine and chlorhexidine in man

This clinical investigation examined the effect of a sanguinarine extract on bacterial plaque growth in man. Three different mouthrinses were examined: (i) Veadent containing 0.03% sanguinarine and 0.2% zinc chloride (test rinse); (ii) a vehicle solution containing all the excipients of Veadent except the 0.03% sanguinarine (control rinse); (iii) Hibident a 0.2% chlorhexidine digluconate formulation (positive control rinse). The trial in which 12 dental students participated, was designed as a single-blind, cross-over study. During 3 experimental periods of 18 days, the participants refrained from mechanical oral hygiene and rinsed twice a day with one of the above mentioned solutions. Between experimental phases, a wash-out period of 11 days was instituted. In each subject, 4 teeth were randomly selected for assessment. Clinical evaluations were performed at days 1 (0, 4, 8, 12 hours), 2, 4, 11 and 18. The plaque on the buccal surfaces of the selected teeth was disclosed with neutral red 0.05% and colour slides taken. The % of the tooth surface covered with plaque was calculated planimetrically from these colour slides. The present results show an excellent anti-plaque effect with Hibident, a very small effect with Veadent and a negligible effect with the vehicle solution without the sanguinarine. These findings would suggest that the Veadent mouthrinse would have at most only a limited role as a plaque inhibitor.