Antibacterial Activity of Flax Seeds Extract Rinse against Streptococcus mutans Colonies

Background: Flax seeds has health-potentiating medicinal benefits due to the presence of a remarkable amount of bioactive compounds. The antibacterial activity of ethanolic extract of flax seeds against Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae has been documented. Therefore, the current study current aims to investigated the antibacterial activity flax seeds extract rinse against Streptococcus mutans colonies

Methodology: It was a preclinical experimental study and sample size was n = 60. The participants were given an envelope for group randomization. Film of plaque from labial surface of teeth of study participants was collected on sterile strips that was transported to laboratory for culture in sterile containers. For culture S. mutant samples were inoculated in Columbia Agar. The flax seeds extract was diluted in distilled water in 1:4 (Extract: Distilled water) concentration. And participants were divided into 3 groups. (negative control, positive control, flax seed extract group). Diluted flax seed extract was given to experimental group for rinses, distilled water was given to negative control group and positive controls were given a commercially available mouth rinse. Next sample of plaque was collected after two hours to observe the effects of flax seed extract on bacterial colonies.

Results: The growth of colonies was calculated on growth media plates in samples prior to rinsing and samples that were taken after the rinsing. The pre and post samples showed significant (p-value <0.05) decrease in number of colonies in positive control group (conventional rinse) and flax seed extract group.

Conclusion: Flax seeds extract mouth rinse reduced the number of colonies equally as that of commercially available mouth rinse.