Lacking anti-plaque efficacy of 2 sanguinarine mouth rinses

The aim of the study was to compare the anti-plaque effect of sanguinaria extract to that of a known effective agent, chlorhexidine gluconate, and to that of a known ineffective agent, tap water. The study was conducted as a 3 times crossed-over and blindly evaluated 3 week clinical trial. 12 dental students rinsed in an individually randomized sequence twice daily for 4 days (Monday to Friday) with Viadent containing 0.03% sanguinaria extract (0.01% sanguinarine chloride) and a 1000 ppm concentration of zinc ions (ZnCl2), 2 X 30 s X 10 ml; with Hibitane Dental containing 0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate, 1 min X 10 ml; and with tap water, 1 min X 10 ml. Mechanical oral hygiene was allowed only during the 3 days between test periods. When measured according to the plaque index or in terms of plaque wet weight, only the chlorhexidine rinse further reduced the low Monday scores. No significant difference was observed between Friday scores after rinses with Viadent and water. The variation in effect of the 3 rinses was less marked when assessed by means of area of plaque on the tooth surfaces. Subjectively, both the taste and effect of Viadent was reported to be poor. In a second controlled clinical trial using the same design, no significant difference in anti-plaque effect was found between the commercially available Viadent rinse and an experimental rinse with a tripled concentration of sanguinarine chloride but the same content of zinc.