A Preliminary Investigation on the Antimicrobial Activity of Listerine®, Its Components, and of Mixtures Thereof. (24th June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vlachojannis, C.; Chrubasik‐Hausmann, S.; Hellwig, E.; Al‐Ahmad, A.
• Is Part Of: Phytotherapy research. Volume 29:Number 10(2015:Oct.)
• Page Start: 1590
• Page End: 1594
• Publication Date: 2015-06-24
• Subjects: Materia medica, Vegetable -- Periodicals; Botany, Medical -- Periodicals; Medicinal plants -- Periodicals; Plant Extracts -- therapeutic use -- Periodicals; Plants, Medicinal -- Periodicals; 581.634
• DOI: 10.1002/ptr.5399
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0951-418X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>Listerine® is one of the most popular mouthwashes worldwide and claims to combat harmful bacteria. In the past century, its recipe was changed from an essential oil mouthwash to a five‐component mixture (thymol, menthol, eucalyptol, and methyl salicylate dissolved in 27% ethanol). The aim of this study was to get preliminary information about the antimicrobial activities of individual Listerine® components and their mixtures. We tested the bacterial strains <italic>Streptococcus mutans</italic>, <italic>Enterococcus faecalis</italic>, and <italic>Eikenella corrodens</italic> and the yeast <italic>Candida albicans</italic>. The established minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assay and the minimum bactericidal/fungicidal concentration (MBC/MFC) assay were applied. None of the combinations of two phenols at the concentrations contained within Listerine® were associated with either an additive or synergistic effect. Thymol had lower MIC and MBC/MFC values than the other Listerine® components and Listerine® against <italic>E. corrodens</italic> and <italic>C. albicans.</italic> The mixtures consisting of eucalyptol, methyl salicylate, and thymol were the most effective against <italic>S. mutans</italic> and <italic>E. faecalis</italic> and more effective than Listerine®. Our results demonstrate that the phenols and their concentrations as contained within Listerine® could be further optimized in terms of selecting those which increase their general effectiveness, at concentrations that do not induce harm. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.</p> </abstract>