Comparative evaluation of antibacterial effect of Malva sylvestris L. extract and chlorohexidine on Streptococcus mutans in vitro study

Background: Identifying the best species of medicinal plants and extracting effective substances can be effective in preventing oral and dental illness. The Malva sylvestris L. is among these plants. Malva sylvestris L. belongs to Malvaceae family from which A great deal of (Malvone A: 2-methyl-3-methoxy-5,6-di- hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone) anthocyanin and important natural pigments have been extracted. Anthocyanins and other substances of Malva sylvestris own antibacterial properties. Antibacterial properties of Malva sylvestris were investigated on the bacterial species. The purpose of this study was to investigate the antibacterial effects of the Malva sylvestris L. extract on the Streptococcus mutans and compare it with the effect of chlorohexidine (0.12%). Methods: This experimental study was carried out at the Shahed University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran in the field of microbiology in January 2016 to September 2016. Methanolic aqueous extract of Malva sylvestris L. was prepared by decoction extraction method. The presence of polyphenol trepnoid, saponine, anthocyanins compounds in the extract was approved by high performance thin layer chromatography. Chromatographic and spectral fingerprint analysis plays an important role in the quality control of complex herbal medicines. The antimicrobial effect of the Malva sylvestris L. on the growth of Streptococcus mutans was evaluated. Results: Extract at different concentrations (16.8-4.2 mg/ml) had an antibacterial effect and compared with commonly used chlorohexidine in dentistry. The non-growth halo against Streptococcus mutans showed an average of 1.66 mm. The minimum inhibitory concentration against Streptococcus was 2 mg/ml. The presence of polyphenols, troponides of saponin, was characterized by high performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC). Conclusion: However, antibiotics play an important role in human health, with the increasing occurrence of bacterial resistance against available antibiotics. The results of this study showed that the aqueous-methanolic extract of the Malva sylvestris L. plant has antimicrobial activity affecting Streptococcus mutans. The flowers extract also showed high antibacterial effects against some human pathogen bacteria strains. This property of polyphenolic compounds of the plant, identified by fingerprint analysis, was less susceptible to chlorohexidine than gold standard.