Photodynamic inactivation (PDI) may be a very promising alternative method for the antimicrobial treatment of periodontitis. Several studies have demonstrated the sensitivity of subgingival flora to PDI using toluidine blue, methylene blue, and chlorin e6 derivatives. In the present study we report the activity of the Fotolon sensitizer, composed of chlorin e6 and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), against anaerobic bacteria isolated from periodontal diseases. Over 99.9% reduction in colony forming units in 20 Gram-positive and 30 Gram-negative clinical anaerobic strains was obtained.
A total of 111 strains (77 strains were Gram-negative and 34 were Gram-positive) of anaerobic bacteria isolated from respiratory tract, were tested. The following essential oils were used for these determinations: Tea Tree Oil, Manuka Oil, Australian Lemon Myrtle Oil and Australian Sandalwood Oil. The susceptibility bacterial strains was determined by means of plate dilution techniques in Brucella agar with 5% sheep blood. Incubation was performed in anaerobic conditions. The MIC was interpreted as the lowest concentrations of the essential oils inhibiting the growth of bacteria. The results indicated, that strains of Prevotella (40-81%), Porphyromonas (40-60%) and Fusobacterium (53-65%) were the most sensitive to the lowest concentrations of the 4 essential oils (MIC <0.03-0.12 mg/ml). From among Gram-positive anaerobic bacteria, the strains of the Peptostreptococcus were the most susceptible to Manuka Oil and Tea Tree Oil (82-95% strains respectively were susceptible with values of MIC from <0.03 to 0.12 mg/ml). The most active against all examined anaerobic bacteria were the Manuka Oil and the Tea Tree Oil. The tested essential oils were more active against Gram-positive anaerobic bacteria.