The Effect of Coconut and Frankincense Oils on the Biofilm Growth of Streptococcus mutans.

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to investigate the antibiofilm effect of coconut and frankincense oils.

METHODS

Different types of coconut (organic refined, cocos nucifera, organic virgin, and organic extra virgin) and frankincense (frankincense pure essential oil in fractionated coconut oil and uplifting frankincense pure essential) oils were investigated. Serial dilutions (1:3, 1:6, 1:12, 1:24, 1:48, 1:96, and 1:192) were created from each oil and incubated with an overnight culture of S. mutans. The total growth and biofilms absorbance were measured at 595 and 490 nm, respectively. One-way ANOVA and Tukey tests were used for data analysis.

RESULTS

The greatest biofilm inhibition was observed in the uplifting frankincense pure essential oil at 1:3 dilution (0.67±0.12), which was significantly lower ( p<0.01) than the control (1.51 ± 0.07). In addition, organic refined (0.96±0.13), organic virgin (1.21±0.28), and organic extra virgin (1.07±0.17) were associated with less biofilms compared to the control, but without a statistical significance. Frankincense pure essential oil in fractionated coconut oil and cocos nucifera coconut oil did not show biofilm inhibition.

CONCLUSIONS

Organic refined, organic virgin, and extra virgin coconut oils, and uplifting frankincense essential oil, effectively reduced S. mutans levels in vitro, with the highest amount of biofilm reduction associated with uplifting frankincense essential oil.