Comparison of Antibacterial Efficacy Chlorohexidine Gluconate and Saudi Myrrh Mouthwashes in the Oral Cavity

Myrrh have been traded in the Middle East and North Africa for 5,000 years, Myrrh is an Oleo-gum resin, phytotoxically safe raw material obtained from the stem of various species of the genus Commiphora, in recent years it has been used in pharmaceuticals, food industries. Chlorhexidine gluconate mouthwash is preferably prescribed by dentist as an effective mouthwash. Aim of the study to investigate the antibacterial effect of myrrh aqueous mouthwash (homemade) solution against some selected microbial flora and comparison of the activity with that of commercial chlorohexidine gluconate mouthwash by participation of 9 female volunteers. Antimicrobial activity of Myrrh was investigated and compared with 0.2% chlorohexidine gluconate mouthwash using agar diffusion method. Escherichia coli 25922, Salmonella 25566, Klebsiella pneumonia 13883, Pseudomonas 27853, Proteus, Staphylococcus aureus 25923, Bacillus, Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans were used in this study and adjusted according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). The results revealed that Myrrh produced antimicrobial activity against oral flora and other species of microorganisms which was to some extent comparable with that of Chlorohexidine gluconate. Microbial load detection showed that home-made myrrh mouthwash aqueous solution is an effective as clinically proved mouthwash.