Effect of german chamomile (matricaria recutita) extracts on mutans streptococci in comparison to chlorhexidine gluconate : a comparative in vitro and in vivo study

Background : German chamomile has a very long history of traditional use, it is primary uses are as a sedative, anxiolytic and antispasmodic, and as a treatment for mild skin irritation and inflammation, is one of the herbs that has been known as an anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and wound healing promoter, this satudy was done to evaluate the antibacterial effect of chamomile on Growth, viability count, adherence and acidigenicity of mutans streptococci in vitro. And viability counts of Streptococci and mutans streptococci, the pH and salivary flow rate of saliva among a number of volunteers. Materials and Methods : After the preparation of alcoholic chamomile extract and the collection of the stimulated saliva from a ten healthy looking dental students aged (20-22 years) from which the Mutans Streptococci was isolated , purified, and diagnosed the four in vitro and one in vivo study was done to test the effect of chamomile extract on growth, adherence, and acidogenicity of Mutans Streptococci. Result : The results showed that, the concentration of chamomile extract from 2.5 % have an inhibition effect on the mutans bacteria, and the effectiveness increased with the increasing of the concentration of the extracts till the 15 % which have an effect equal to chlorhexidine. Conclusion : the alcoholic chamomile extract was effective in prevention of growth, adherence, and acid production of Mutans Streptococci.