1. Introduction
Periodontal conditions impact a sizeable section of the world's population and, if ignored, can lead to tooth loss [
1]. The gram-negative, anaerobic bacterium
P. gingivalis is usually considered as one of the pathogens connected to the periodontal problems because of its ability to form biofilms on oral tissues [
2]. An organized bacterial colony that is protected by a self-produced polymeric matrix and a biofilm has an advantage over the host's defenses and conventional antibiotic therapies [
3].
The bacterial cell to cell communication mechanism known as quorum sensing (QS) is essential for the development of biofilms and other virulence traits [
4]. In Gram-negative bacteria like
P. gingivalis, acylated homoserine lactones (AHLs) play a crucial signaling function in the quorum sensing process [
5]. In order to treat chronic disorders like periodontitis, approaches to stop AHL production may lower the activity of bacteria and prevent the formation of biofilms. [
6].
Metronidazole, a nitroimidazole antibiotic, is an excellent treatment option for bacterial infections caused by
P. gingivalis, are also considered .It functions by damaging bacterial DNA and obstructing protein synthesis [
7]. However, the rise in antibiotic resistance threatens the antibiotic's long-term usefulness, necessitating the search for alternative therapies [
8].
In this respect, compounds made from plants have attracted a lot of interest because of their shown efficacy against several bacterial infections. Comfrey (Symphytum Officinale) and Panax Ginseng have shown significant antibacterial properties in earlier studies [
9]. Comfrey has a number of bioactive compounds with anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and wound-healing activities, including allantoin, rosmarinic acid, and mucilage [
10]. On the other hand, Panax Ginseng containing ginsenosides and saponins, a herb used in East Asian traditional medicine, has been found to have strong antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties [
11]. Ginsenosides are known for having potent antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties [
13]. The examination of these organic compounds for their capacity to inhibit quorum sensing and biofilm growth may pave the way for the development of innovative approaches to treating periodontal disease [
12,
14].
Given the growing interest in phytochemicals as potential therapeutic agents, the findings of this study may help in the development of more effective and long-lasting techniques for treating periodontal problems [
18]. Given the threat that antibiotic resistance poses to the global health, it is more crucial than ever to find novel plant-based antibacterial medicines [
19]. Studying how these two herbs interact with
P. gingivalis may thus indicate the potential therapeutic value of Symphytum Officinale and Panax Ginseng in the management and treatment of periodontal disease [
20].
However, little is known about the specific ways that Panax ginseng and Symphytum Officinale interact with
P. gingivalis, particularly in relation to the inhibition of biofilm development and the production of AHLs [
14]. This is despite the fact that both Panax ginseng and Symphytum Officinale have well-established antibacterial abilities [
15]. Furthermore, the potential synergistic effects of mixing these plant extracts with typical antibiotics like metronidazole have also just been briefly studied in only a few studies [
16]. Because the bulk of research so far have focused on the effects of individual plant extracts, there is a big gap in our understanding of the potential benefits of a combined therapeutic strategy [
17].
The goal of the current study was to determine if these extracts might effectively treat P. gingivalis whether used alone or in combination with Metronidazole. Additionally, the impact of these extracts on AHL synthesis and biofilm formation was explored. This approach has the potential to significantly contribute to the creation of more effective choices for treating periodontal disease, and this research may be the first step towards that direction.
4. Discussion
The results of the current investigation showed that the extracts of Panax ginseng and Symphytum officinale had significant antibacterial actions against
P. gingivalis, limiting the generation of quorum-sensing molecules and preventing the creation of new biofilms [
1]. They demonstrated a synergistic interaction with the antibiotic Metronidazole, greatly boosting its antibacterial effectiveness [
2]. This information may be significant because using plant extracts [
28] in conjunction with antibiotics may help to combat the rising issue of antibiotic resistance [
3].
The effectiveness of the plant extracts against both the standard and clinical isolates of
P. gingivalis points to the possibility of using them as therapeutic agents to treat periodontal disorders [
29,
30]. It is crucial to keep in mind that these results are preliminary and more research is required to completely comprehend the mechanisms of action of these plant extracts and to confirm their efficiency in vivo [
4].
In particular, those connected to biofilm formation and quorum sensing, the study offers encouraging insights into the potential of plant-derived chemicals in creating more efficient methods for managing
P. gingivalis infections. Future research should [
31,
32], however, focus on identifying the precise bioactive substances that are in charge of these antibacterial activities as well as assessing the effectiveness and safety of these extracts in human clinical trials [
5]. Additionally, research into additional plant-derived substances with comparable qualities may result in the identification of brand-new antibacterial substances that might significantly improve the capacity to manage periodontal disorders [
6].
According to the current study's findings, Panax ginseng and Symphytum officinale both have strong antibacterial activity against
P. gingivalis, both in terms of preventing growth and dissolving existing biofilms [
7]. The bacteria that were isolated from patients were more active and energetic than the conventional strain, as evidenced by the smaller size of the inhibition zone (
Table 2), increased optical density (
Table 4), and increased activity of AHL (
Table 6).This also corroborates with other studies that claim clinical isolates may display unique characteristics [
11,
12,
13]. Additionally, there was increasing in inhibition zone diameter by increasing extracts concentrations and synergy when Metronidazole was combined with plant extracts (
Table 2), suggesting a possible method for boosting the effectiveness of already prescribed antibiotics [
8].
This work provides new insights into a growing body of research supporting the use of natural extracts for enhanced antimicrobial effectiveness when compared to our previous study (21). Where inhibition zone diameter of G+S (24.341±0.593) was greater than G, S, or F alone (G= 20.5120 ± 0.014, S=18.6111 ± 0.147, F= 20.4119 ± 0.114) and more synergistic effects were observed when combining the extracts with metronidazole, the inhibition zone of G+S+F (25.000±0.001) was greater than that of G+F (G+F=24.0125 ± 0.321) or S+F (22.0367 ± 0.014).
Additionally, both plant extracts shown a notable capacity to suppress the synthesis of AHLs, a crucial quorum sensing molecule involved in
P. gingivalis biofilm development [
9]. This is particularly intriguing since it shows that these plant extracts may not only directly kill bacteria but also interfere with the intricate networks of communication that
P. gingivalis use to coordinate the creation of biofilms and other virulence traits [
10].
The bioactive substances responsible for the reported antibacterial activity have not yet been identified, despite these encouraging results. Because Symphytum officinale and Panax ginseng are both known to contain a range of bioactive substances [
14,
15], the antibacterial effects that have been reported may be the result of one or more of these substances working alone or in combination [
11].
The safety and effectiveness of these plant extracts must also be examined in clinical studies [
33,
34] before they can be taken into consideration for therapeutic application, despite the fact that the in vitro results are encouraging [
13]. Additionally, since the current study only looked at two plant species, investigating additional plant-derived substances with comparable qualities may result in the identification of brand-new antibacterial chemicals, considerably boosting the ability to treat periodontal diseases [
14,
19,
21,
35].
In particular, those connected to biofilm formation and quorum sensing, the study offers encouraging insights into the potential of plant-derived chemicals [
16,
17,
18] in creating more efficient methods for managing
P. gingivalis infections. Future research should, however, focus on identifying the precise bioactive substances that are in charge of these antibacterial activities as well as assessing the effectiveness and safety of these extracts in human clinical trials [
14].
Future study should concentrate on in vivo confirmation of the efficacy of Panax ginseng and Symphytum officinale in relation to P. gingivalis, building on the current findings. It would also be helpful to investigate any potential negative effects or toxicities connected with these extracts, particularly when used over an extended period of time. In order to create new, more potent medications to treat P. gingivalis, it is crucial to pinpoint the precise chemical components in these extracts that are responsible for the antibacterial action.
Understanding the methods by which these plant extracts prevent P. gingivalis from forming biofilms and using quorum sensing might also provide light on the pathogenicity of this bacterium and the larger significance of these processes in periodontal disease. It could also result in the creation of more specialised and successful treatment approaches.