Abstract
A local drug delivery system for treatment of periodontal pockets by antibiotic is often used on patient with periodontitis. However, a well-known side effect of the long-term use of antibiotics is the increase in the number of resistant bacteria, such as MRSA, which is a serious medical problem.
Recently, natural pharmacological agents have been examined for their anti-microbial efficacy. For example, a polyphenol component in Japanese green tea and glycyrrhizin in a Glycyrrhizae Radix have been shown to inhibit HIV virus proliferation.
We already have been reported the clinical evaluation of some Chinese traditional drugs, such as Coptidis Rhizoma or Lonicerae Flos, and concluded that they have potential to be used as anti-inflammatory agents against periodontitis. In this present study, the traditional Chinese crude drugs from Folium Strobilanthis and Radix Strobilanthis were tested for their in vitro activity against periodontopathic bacteria.
Also, the latter drug was evaluated clinically for use in a mouth rinse.
The results suggest that Chinese traditional drugs Folium and Radix Strobilanthis inhibited the growth of periodontopathic bacteria and cariogenic bacteria in vitro. Furthermore, Radix Strobilanthis inhibited the proliferation of oral bacteria when used in a mouth rinse. J. Jpn. Soc. Periodontol., 43: 166-172, 2001.
