Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Activity of Citral and its Derivative against Microflora from Dental Plaque

Dental biofilms inhabit the oral cavity in form of dental plaque which then causes dental caries and periodontal diseases worldwide. Lemon grass essential oil (LGEO) has been reported to exhibit antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity against. This study represents the potential of citral and derivatives as antimicrobial and antibiofilm agent against dental microflora. Three bacterial species chiefly responsible for biofilm formation, and five prime colonizer of dental plaque were selected to represent dental microflora. Citral and its derivative viz. citral semicarbazone, exhibited antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity against the selected organisms. For the first time, any citral derivative has ever demonstrated to exhibit antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity against the oral microflora. However, study could not established citral or its derivatives as more effective, powerful and better herbal material as compared to LGEO to control the oral microflora associated with dental plaque.