CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF Syzygium Aromaticum Linn Essential Oil and Extracts AGAINST SOME PATHOGENS RESPONSIBLE FOR BUCCAL AND DENTAL INFECTIONS

Various different microorganisms can commonly be found in the human oral cavity and are significant contributing factors of buccal and dental infections. This study focuses on the isolation and characterization of the buccal cavity flora, the chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of essential oil (EO) and extracts obtained from Syzygium aromaticum L. The microbial strains isolated were categorized as Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans, Lactobacillus and Candida albicans. The chemical composition of E.O. of S.aromaticum was determined using gas chromatography and infrared spectroscopy. A total of 13 compounds were identified in S. aromaticum L essential oil representing 97.87% of the detected constituents. Eugenol (28.087%) and Eugenyl acetate (27.559%) were the predominant components followed by β-Caryophyllene (8.096%) and α-Humulene (6.530 %). The antimicrobial activity was evaluated by means of a paper disc diffusion and dilution methods against C.albicans and three bacterium strains isolated from decayed teeth. Essential Oil and extracts provided potency of antimicrobial against the tested pathogenic microbial strains with different sensitivity patterns. E.O. showed a strong antimicrobial effect against C. albicans, St.mutans and Lactobacillus sp, with respective inhibition zone of 34.20±0.15 mm, 30.40±0.18mm and 25.60±0.22 mm. S.aromaticum butanol extract showed good antimicrobial properties comparatively with aqueous extract. This high antimicrobial activity can be ascribed to their richness in Eugenol. The E.O. and extracts of S.aromaticum could be considered a promising alternative to replace antibiotics, and a readily available natural source of bioactive compounds for controlling oral infections.