Preparation of Boerhaavia diffusa Mediated Selenium Based Mouthwash-A Comparative Microbial and Cytotoxic Effect

Introduction: The extract of Boerhaavia diffusa root, a plant used in Indian traditional medicine, has significant immunomodulatory Potential. Selenium, a nutrient element that has a massive function in biological systems, is one of the interesting compounds to integrate with antibacterial agents. Recently several studies have pointed out the ability of selenium nanoparticles to exhibit anticancer, antioxidant, antibacterial and antibiofilm properties.

Aim: To analyze the antimicrobial and cytotoxic activity of Boerhaavia diffusa mediated selenium nanoparticles based mouthwash.

Materials and Methods: 1 g of Boerhavia diffusa was added in 100 ml of distilled water. It was boiled; the plant extract was filtered using Whatman’s no.1 filter paper. In 250 ml conical flask, 60 ml of 20 millimolar sodium selenite was prepared and 40 ml of the filtered plant extract was mixed. This flask was kept in a magnetic stirrer. The nanoparticle solution was centrifuged at 8000rpm to prepare nanoparticle pellets. The nanoparticle pellet was dried in a hot air oven at 80 degree celsius. The dried powder was sent for Characterization. A mouthwash is prepared.

The prepared mouthwash was tested for cytotoxic activity by brine shrimp lethality assay and antimicrobial activity evaluated the zone of inhibition of agar well diffusion method.

Results and Discussion: It was proved that cytotoxic activity of selenium bound mouthwash was less compared to the commercial mouthwash. The antibacterial activity of the selenium bound mouthwash against C. albicans and S. mutans was significant when compared to the standard antimicrobial agent.

Conclusion: Based on the results, this mouthwash has the required qualities to be commercially be used. Therefore further studies can be done to prove that this mouthwash can be used commercially.