Development of a mouthwash based on essential oil of Cymbopogon giganteus Chiov. (Poaceae) for use in the treatment of angina

Development of a mouthwash based on essential oil of Cymbopogon giganteus Chiov.

Abstract

Based on previous studies, which demonstrated in vitro efficacy of Cymbopogon giganteus Chiov. (Poaceae) essential oil on germs involved in angina, the objective of this study was to develop a mouthwash based on this oil for the treatment of angina. Olive oil is used as a dispersed phase, TWEEN 60 and SPAN 60 as surfactants to stabilize the emulsion for the mouthwash.  The characterization of the mouthwash was carried out by means of organoleptic and microscopic tests. The direction of the emulsion is determined by the coloring tests and confirmed by the electrical conductivity test. The absence of instability of the mouthwash is verified by means of physical stability tests, at temperature and in the centrifuge. The sterility of the mouthwash was investigated by inoculation on different agar media. After several preparations, only the preparation with 40% olive oil with a milky white appearance and a greasy feel was stable with an absence of flocculation and coalescence and without observation of instability phenomena such as creaming or sedimentation. The conductivity tests (49.2 µS/cm) confirmed the Oil in Water (O/W) direction of the emulsion. The sterility tests were conclusive in the absence of proliferation of microorganisms after 5 days of incubation. This study allowed the formulation of a mouthwash based on Cymbopogon giganteus essential oil with a good profile, quality and stability.