Role of plantago major mother tincture in aqueous solution on oral microbiome: a comparative study with conventional methods

Maintaining oral health is essential for preserving the balance of the oral microbiome and preventing both dental and systemic diseases Conventional mouthwashes such as chlorhexidine are widely used but often associated with side effects like staining altered taste and microbial resistance Plantago major a medicinal plant with known antiinflammatory antimicrobial and woundhealing properties presents a promising alternative for natural oral care This experimental study investigates the clinical efficacy and patient acceptability of an aqueous solution of Plantago major mother tincture compared to conventional oral hygiene methods including toothpaste and oil pulling

The study was conducted at Sarada Krishna Homoeopathic Medical College Tamil Nadu involving 30 participants aged 10 to 70 years Participants were randomly divided into three groups Group 1 used an aqueous solution of Plantago major 1:9 dilution as a primary oral hygiene agent Group 2 used conventional toothpaste and Group 3 practiced oil pulling with sesame oil Baseline and followup assessments included clinical indices Plaque Index PI Gingival Index GI and Bleeding on Probing BOP as well as oral microbiome sampling and patientreported outcome surveys on taste ease of use and side effects

The expected outcome is that Plantago major will demonstrate comparable or superior clinical efficacy to conventional methods with significant reductions in PI GI and BOP scores Additionally it is anticipated that patients will report fewer side effects and higher compliance with the herbal solution The intervention may also influence microbial diversity in a favorable direction without disrupting beneficial flora

By addressing existing research gaps in comparative efficacy and patient perception this study aims to validate Plantago major as a viable natural alternative to chemical mouthwashes and promote its role in integrative oral healthcare