Comparison of Antibacterial Efficacy of Fenugreek Seed Extract Rinse and Nigella Sativa Seed Extract Rinse against Streptococcus Mutant Colonies

Background: Dental infections were caused by the bacterium overgrowth on the surface of the tooth, and treatment should always be set up to prevent this development.Antibiotics have long been used as a conventional antibacterial medication, but their overuse has resulted in microbes gaining resistance to many of the antibiotics, trying to make many commercialized therapeutic remedies ineffectual and resulting to infection recurrence. In this regard we aim to analyze the antibacterial activity of nigella sativa seeds’ and fenugreek seed extract rinses against S. mutans' colonies.

Methodology: It was a preclinical experimental study conducted at Baqai Medical and Dental College Karachi., from January - June 2021. Calculated sample size was n = 80 Consecutive sampling technique was used. Plaque of study participants was collected on sterile strips that was transported to laboratory for culture in sterile containers.The extract of Fenugreek seed and nigella sativa seed was kept in an airtight bottle and stored in a refrigerator till usage. The extracts were diluted in distilled water in 1:4 (Extract: Distilled water). Study participants were instructed to not brush their teeth before sampling. Study participants were divided into four groups (negative control, positive control, fenugreek seed extract group and Nigella sativa group) each group had 20 participants. Diluted Fenugreek seed extract and Nigella sativa extract was given to experimental groups for rinses.

Results: There was significant decrease in number of colonies in positive controls, fenugreek seed extract group and nigella sativa extract group and there was no change in number of colonies in control group. Furthermore, the analysis showed significant (p-value = 0.001) difference among the groups followed by post hoc analysis. Post hoc analysis showed no difference between positive control, fenugreek seed extract group and nigella sativa group.

Conclusion: Fenugreek seed extract and Nigella Sativa seed extract showed comparable antibacterial properties. Also, the effect was found to be similar to commercially available mouth rinse.