Antibacterial activity of chlorhexidine alone and in combination with metronidazole, Punica granatum, and Curcuma longa against Porphyromonas gingivalis: an in vitro study.

BACKGROUND

The aim was to evaluate the antibacterial activity of 0.2% chlorhexidine (CHX) alone and in combination with metronidazole, Punica granatum extract, and Curcuma longa extract against Porphyromonas gingivalis.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

An in vitro experimental study was performed using P. gingivalis strain ATCC 33277. Bacteria were cultured under anaerobic conditions. Ten experimental groups were evaluated: 0.2% CHX, 0.5% metronidazole, 100% P. granatum extract, 0.1 and 1.0% C. longa extracts, their respective combinations with 0.2% CHX, and distilled water. Antibacterial activity was assessed using an agar-well diffusion assay, and the diameter of the bacterial growth inhibition zone was measured in millimeters. Statistical significance was established at P < 0.05.

RESULTS

The combination of 0.2% CHX and 0.5% metronidazole demonstrated the greatest antibacterial activity, producing the largest inhibition zone (21.67 ± 1.60 mm). This value was significantly greater than those observed for CHX alone (16.44 ± 1.09 mm, P < 0.01), P. granatum combined with CHX (18.11 ± 0.11 mm, P < 0.01), 0.1% C. longa combined with CHX (18.89 ± 0.40 mm, P < 0.01), and 1.0% C. longa combined with CHX (18.40 ± 0.62 mm, P < 0.01). Among the individual agents, 100% P. granatum extract demonstrated the greatest antibacterial activity (20.67 ± 0.00 mm), whereas metronidazole alone, both C. longa extracts, and the negative control produced no measurable inhibition zones.

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of CHX and metronidazole exhibits the strongest antibacterial activity, whereas P. granatum extracts demonstrate substantial antibacterial activity against P. gingivalis.