Comparative Study of the Antimicrobial Activity of Clove Oil and Clove Extract on Oral Pathogens

Objective The main objective of the present study was to do the comparative study of clove oil and clove extract on the oral micro-biota causing dental caries and also to assess the antifungal activity. Materials and Methods The antimicrobial activity of clove oil and clove extract was assessed against Halobacterium sp., Lactobacillus sp., Pseudomonas sp., Micrococcus sp. and Streptococcus mutans (major causative bacteria of dental plaque) by the paper disc diffusion method. For each extract three replicate trials were conducted against each organism. The antifungal activity of clove oil and extract was also assessed against seven fungal species (Aspergillus niger, A. fumigatus, Aspergillus sp., Alternaria sp., Rhizomucor sp., Rhizopus sp. and Penicillium sp.) by agar disc diffusion method. Results Both clove oil and clove extract was found to exhibit broad spectrum of antibacterial activity inhibiting all the ten test bacterial species involved in dental caries. Clove oil produced maximum inhibition zone of diameter (IZD) against themajor causative bacteria of dental plaque as compared to clove extract, thereby, showing that clove oil possesses strong bactericidal activity against oral pathogens. The highest inhibition zone of diameter was observed by clove oil as compared to clove extract against the test fungal species Conclusion The clove oil has the potential to be used as a natural antibacterial agent for oral pathogens.