PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Al-Obaida, Mohammad I.
AU  - Al-Essa, Mohamed A.
AU  - Asiri, Abdulaziz A.
AU  - Al-Rahla, Ali A.
TI  - Effectiveness of a 20% Miswak extract against a mixture of Candida albicans and Enterococcus faecalis
DP  - 2010 Jun 01
TA  - Saudi Medical Journal
PG  - 640--643
VI  - 31
IP  - 6
4099  - http://smj.org.sa/content/31/6/640.short
4100  - http://smj.org.sa/content/31/6/640.full
SO  - Saudi Med J2010 Jun 01; 31
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To examine the in vitro antimicrobial effect of a 20% Miswak extract against a mixture of Candida albicans (C. albicans) and Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) using the dilution tube susceptibility test, which allows direct contact between the tested material and the microorganisms.METHODS: The study samples were collected and processed between August 2009 and January 2010 in the College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Each microorganism was obtained in a suspension and exposed to a 20% Miswak extract in plastic tissue culture clusters containing 24 wells. Six wells were used per group. The Miswak extract was incubated with the microorganisms for one, 6, and 24 hours.RESULTS: This in vitro study showed that Miswak extract was an effective antifungal and antibacterial agent at all tested experimental time periods, except one hour exposure of a 20% Miswak extract to E. faecalis and a mixture of E. faecalis and C. albicans, which was ineffective in inhibiting their growth.CONCLUSION: Twenty percent Miswak extract is an effective antifungal and antibacterial agent against C. albicans and E. faecalis.