Treatment of dental biofilm with a tincture of Bauhinia forficata leaves: an ex-vivo study.

The inhibitory activity of a Bauhinia forficata tincture (TBF) was investigated against oral microorganism's strains and against a mature oral biofilm. The viability of planktonic cells was analyzed by Minimal Inhibitory and Microbicidal concentrations of TBF. Salivary samples from health volunteers were collected and mixed to form a saliva pool. An aliquot from this pool were seeded on membranes, which were incubated to form biofilm (48 h). The biofilm was treated according to the groups: G1-Chlorhexidine 0.12%; G2-TBF at the highest MMC; G3-Ethanol at the TBF highest MMC. G4 was the growth control. Streptococcus spp. (S) and total microorganisms (TM) from biofilm were counted. TBF was microbicidal against all oral pathogens. G2 was able to reduce the counts of S and TM from biofilm compared to G3 and G4, but less than G1 (p < 0.05). TBF is able to reduce the microbial levels from a mature oral biofilm.