The in vitro activity of selected mouthrinses on standard strains of fungi

An oral cavity hygiene plays a key role in prophylactic and therapeutic measures to prevent pathological changes caused by different viruses, bacteria, fungi and protozoa. It is important to maintain proper oral hygiene and assist the removal of potent pathogens; use of the mouthrinses can be one of method providing to these goal. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of selected mouthrinses on the standard strains of Candida presented in the oral cavity. Eight reference strains of fungi were investigated: C. albicans (CBS 2312), C. albicans (L 45), C. albicans (ATCC 24433), C. dubliniensis (CBS 7987), C. glabrata (CBS 862), C. krusei (CBS 573), C. parapsilosis (CBS 10947) and C. tropicalis (CBS 2424). Thirteen mouthrinses were used in the study, including pure chlorhexidine (CHX), and 12 commercially available varieties: Azulan, Colgate Plax Complete Care Sensitive, Corsodyl 0,2%, Curasept ADS 205, Dentosept, Dentosept A, Eludril Classic, Listerine Total care, Octenidol, Oral-B Pro-Expert Clinic Line, Sylveco and Tinctura salviae. The present study used a qualitative diffusion in agar gel-well plate method to evaluated the antifungal properties of mouthrinses. Among the 12 commercially available mouthrinses examined in the study, the following were not found to show antifungal activity: Azulan, Dentosept, Eludril Classic, Listerine Total care, Tinctura salviae. The largest inhibition zones were produced by Dentosept, Chlorhexidine and Colgate. The smallest inhibition zones were produced by Octenidol and Curasept. With regard to mouthwash type, statistically significant differences in growth inhibition zone diameter were found between the following pairs of fungi: C. albicans and C. krusei for Colgate without dilution and with 1:2 dilution; C. albicans and C. glabrata for Corsodryl without dilution and with 1:2 dilution; C. albicans and C. dubliniensis for Dentosept A without dilution; C. glabrata and C. parapsilosis with 1:2 dilution; C. dubliniensis and C. tropicalis for Sylveco without dilution, 1:2 dilution and 1:4 dilution; C. dubliniensis and C. parapsilosis for Sylveco without dilution, 1:2 dilution and 1:4 dilution. The lowest MIC values calculated from the Iinear regression equation, indicating the strongest potential activity, were obtained for Dentosept A, followed by chlorhexidine; the lowest activity, was calculated for Curasept and for Octenidol. Some of the tested mouthrinses have antimycotic properties at commercially available concentrations. In spite of the fact that chlorhexidine is thought to be the gold standard for mouthrinse use, Dentosept has stronger antimycotic activity and acts on a wider spectrum of fungi species. Chlorhexidine and Colgate do not appear to act against C. tropicalis, neither does Curaspet against C.dubliniensis; therefore, the determination of the fungus species is necessary.