Antioxidant and antimicrobial effects of polyherbal toothpaste against oral pathogens Porphyromonas gingivalis, Streptococcus mutans, and Candida albicans

Abstract

Maintaining oral health is essential for preventing dental plaque, and toothpaste is a primary tool for supporting oral hygiene. Herbal-based toothpaste is considered a safer alternative due to its natural bioactive compounds, which have antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. This study was conducted to assess the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of a toothpaste formulation containing royal jelly, black cumin, ginger, and cinnamon extracts. Antioxidant activity was assessed using DPPH, ABTS, H₂O₂, and NO scavenging assays, while antimicrobial activity was evaluated by the disk diffusion method against Porphyromonas gingivalis, Streptococcus mutans, and Candida albicans. The polyherbal toothpaste mix exhibited the highest scavenging activity in the DPPH (50.89%), ABTS (15.71%), NO (33.97%), and H₂O₂ (23.04%) assays, and showed significant antimicrobial activity against three representative oral pathogens at 100% concentration. The polyherbal toothpaste mix demonstrated significant antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, supporting its potential application as a natural dental care product.