Antibacterial Activity of Cissus quadrangularis (Veldt Grape) Against Porphyromonas gingivalis, a Keystone Pathogen in Periodontal Disease: An In Vitro Study

Background: Porphyromonas gingivalis, a keystone pathogen and one of the primary pathogens responsible for periodontitis, leads to a chronic inflammatory condition that destroys the periodontal tissues and ultimately results in tooth loss. While conventional non-surgical therapy combined with antibiotics and local drug delivery systems are commonly used to treat periodontitis, certain medicinal herbs have also demonstrated efficacy in its prevention. Cissus quadrangularis L. (CQ), a perennial plant from the Vitaceae family, is widely recognized and used as a medicinal herb in many tropical countries, predominantly in India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Java, West Africa, and the Philippines. Aim: The aim of the study was to determine the antibacterial activity of CQ against the periodontal keystone pathogen P. gingivalis. Method: Aqueous and ethanolic extracts of CQ were prepared using a Soxhlet extractor. The antibacterial effectiveness of these extracts against the periodontal pathogen P. gingivalis was evaluated at different concentrations, and the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined using broth microdilution. Results: The ethanolic extract of CQ mixed with 10% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) showed higher inhibition compared to the aqueous extract of CQ against P. gingivalis. Conclusion: Our study revealed the potent inhibitory effects of CQ against P. gingivalis. Both aqueous and ethanolic extracts displayed MIC values of 500 µg/mL. Notably, the ethanolic extract of CQ, dissolved in 10% DMSO, demonstrated superior efficacy with a lower IC50 value of 194.36 µg/mL. These findings indicate promising potential for CQ in the management of periodontal disease.