Antibacterial Effect of Aloe Vera Gel against Oral Pathogens: An In-vitro Study

Natural herbal remedies have shown promising anti-microbial property and fewer side effects compared to synthetic anti-microbial therapy. Aloe Vera is a medicinal plant used for management of various infections since ancient times as it has anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and immune-boosting properties.

The aim of the present study was to determine the anti-microbial and inhibitory activities of various concentration of Aloe Vera Gel (AVG) against oral pathogenic bacteria.

Subgingival calculus and aspiration of periapical abscess and periodontal abscess was done in 20 patients and the sample transferred to thioglycolate broth, which was incubated in Mutans Sanguis agar, blood agar and cultured in anaerobic gas chamber. The colonies formed were identified further by gram staining methods and biochemical fermentation tests (IMViC). Each isolated colony of identified bacteria were cultured separately in Muller-Hilton broth and incubated at 37°C for 24 hours. Anti-microbial activity of the AVG was tested by the disc diffusion method and minimum inhibitory concentration was determined by broth micro-dilution method.

Various staining and biochemical tests confirmed that the sample contained Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans (A. actinomycetemcomitans), Clostridium bacilli (C. bacilli), Streptcoccus mutans (S. mutans) and Staphlococcus aureus (Staph. aureus). AVG showed anti-bacterial property at 100% and 50% concentration ('t' value = 7.504, p-value <0.001). At lower concentration there was no effect against the bacteria. At 100% AVG concentration, zone of inhibition measured was 6.9mm in A. actinomycetemcomitans, 6.3mm in C. bacilli, 6.8mm in S. mutans and 6.6mm in Staph. aureus. The standard drugs were also used to compare anti-bacterial property of AVG. Result showed that higher concentration (100%, 50%) of AVG has comparable zone of inhibition with Ofloxacin (5mcg) and Ciprofloxacin (30mcg).

AVG at higher concentration showed anti-bacterial property and can be used as a promising adjunct for oral health care.