Acta Pharmaceutica Sciencia, cilt.63, sa.2, ss.464-474, 2025 (Scopus)
This study evaluates the antimicrobial activity of European Pharmacopeia quality essential oils from Foeniculum vulgare Mill., Lavandula angustifolia Mill., Carum carvi L., and Pinus mugo Turra in mouthwash formulations with various combinations. These essential oils are ethnobotanically recognized for treating throat infections. Antimicrobial testing was conducted using microdilution and disc diffusion methods against oral pathogens. The mouthwash formulations were created as binary and quadruple combinations of the four oils. Formulations contains essential oils in the range of 0.5-0.55 mg/mL. Among the seven combinations tested, the most potent were the F. vulgare-P. mugo (25 mm zone diameter) and L. angustifolia-C. carvi (30 mm zone diameter) blends against Streptococcus mitis. While none of the formulations were effective against Moraxella catarrhalis, all were generally effective against S. mutans. Consequently, it is suggested that the mouthwash formulations developed with these essential oils may be particularly useful in preventing dental caries.