EVALUATION OF ANTIMICROBIAL POTENTIAL OF LEAVES OF ANACARDIUM ACCIDENTALE L. ON ORAL CARIOGENIC AND PERIODONTAL PATHOGENS AND A FUNGAL ORGANISM CANDIDA ALBICANS

Dr. Soniya Adyanthaya*, Dr. Vidya Pai, Dr. Maji Jose M.D.S., Dr. Hassan Imran Mohtesham, Dr. Shakil Moidin, Dr. Shruti Nayak

Aim: Due to the emergence of multi-drug resistant organisms, there is a need for the development of new antimicrobials more importantly from natural sources as this delays the development of resistance. The antimicrobial capabilities of plant extracts derived from the leaves of the cashew plant, Anacardium occidentale L., on oral cariogenic and periodontal pathogens and a fungal organism Candida albicans were studied. Methods: The leaves of Anacardium occidentale were collected and different solvents were used for the preparation of the extract namely petroleum ether, dichloro methane, ethyl acetate, methanol and aqueous solvent. The antibacterial potential was evaluated using the agar well diffusion assay. Results: The methanol extracts of Anacardium occidentale at 500mg/ml concentration showed maximum zone of inhibition against Prevotella intermedia (14mm) followed by Streptococcus mitis and Lactobacillus species (12mm each) and Streptococcus mutans (10mm). The Candida albicans was found to be resistant against all the different extracts studied. The antimicrobial activities of leaves of Anacardium occidentale against the test organisms are promising. Conclusion: Exploring the biologically active compounds and understanding their nature and mechanisms of action are open to investigation which can be the basis for the development of new antimicrobial agents from Anacardium occidentale.