Investigating the Antimicrobial Effects of Methanolic Trachyspermum ammi Extract on Probiotic Bacteria Streptococcus salivarius K12, Streptococcus salivarius M18, and Bifidobacterium lactis BB12 under Laboratory Conditions
Subject Areas :M. A Sadeghi 1 , D mtehrani 2 , M Mohammadzadeh Vazifeh 3 * , N Shokrollahzadeh 4
1 - University of Science and Culture
2 - Tehran, Iran
3 - Department of Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
4 - Department of Food Hygiene, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
Keywords: Probiotics, Methanolic extract of Trachyspermum ammi, Antimicrobial activity, Oral health, Streptococcus salivarius,
Abstract :
Probiotics, live microorganisms with beneficial health properties, play a key role in maintaining the microbial balance of the oral and gut microbiota. However, exposure of these beneficial bacteria to natural antimicrobial compounds may affect their activity. This study aimed to investigate the antimicrobial effects of methanolic extract of Trachyspermum ammi (Ajwain) on probiotic strains Streptococcus salivarius K12, Streptococcus salivarius M18, and Bifidobacterium lactis BB12 under laboratory conditions. The methanolic extract of cumin was extracted using a Soxhlet apparatus and prepared in concentrations of 20, 30, 50, and 400 mg/ml. The inhibitory effects of the extract were evaluated using three methods: Well Agar Diffusion, Disk Diffusion, and Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC). The results showed that, at all tested concentrations, the cumin extract did not exhibit any inhibitory or bactericidal effects on the growth of probiotic strains (MIC, MBC > 400 mg/ml). These findings suggest that the bioactive compounds of cumin (such as thymol and carvacrol), despite their strong antimicrobial properties against oral pathogens, are safe for the studied probiotics. Therefore, the simultaneous use of this extract and probiotics in oral health product formulations (such as toothpaste, mouthwash, and chewing tablets) could provide a novel approach to pathogen control and the preservation of oral microbiota health. This study presents the first report on the safety of cumin extract for key oral probiotics and lays the groundwork for future research on the development of combination therapies based on medicinal plants and probiotics.
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