Antimicrobial activity of Gunnera tinctoria (Mol.) Mirb. against Porphyromonas gingivalis in periodontal disease

Volume : VIII, Issue : IV, April - 2018

Jorge Galvez, Maite Rodriguez Diaz, Carolina Otero, Fernando Torres, Jose Manuel Delgado, Denisse Bravo

In Chile, in particular Mapuches, traditional medicine, the medicinal plant Gunnera tinctoria (Mol.) Mirb. is used to

relieve sore throats and irritated gums.

Aim of the Study: To evaluate and quantify the antimicrobial activity of petiole extracts of G. tinctoria (Mol.) Mirb. against Porphyromonas

gingivalis, the principial etiologic agent in periodontal disease.

Materials and Methods: A sequential extraction of macerated petioles of G. tinctoria (Mol.) Mirb. was carried out, and the antimicrobial activity

of each extract was tested in a series of disk diffusion, turbidity and bacterial viability assays. MIC was determined for extracts showing a

antimicrobial activity.

Results: Methanolic and ethanolic extracts showed antimicrobial activity against P. gingivalis, with a MIC of 2.0 mg/mL for both extracts. Use of

the methanolic extract resulted in a smaller number of colony forming units in a quantitative bacterial viability assay.

Conclusions: This is the first study on the antimicrobial activity of G. tinctoria (Mol.) Mirb. in periodontal disease. In view of the accelerated

spread of bacterial antibiotic resistance, the use of traditional medicinal plants represents an attractive alternative strategy with few adverse

effects. We suggest that G. tinctoria (Mol.) Mirb. could be used as an additional tool in the periodontal disease treatment.