Screening of traditionally used medicinal plants for their antimicrobial efficacy against oral pathogens and GC-MS analysis of <em>Acacia nilotica </em>extract

162-168Oral diseases are one of the major public health issues. Due to acquisition of pathogenic resistance over conventional antimicrobials, the search for natural alternatives continues. In the present study, thirty two methanol and ethyl acetate extracts prepared from 14 different plant species were screened against oral pathogens. Principal Component Analysis indicated that methanol extract of Acacia nilotica twig was the most influential with highest F1 score and showed almost 2 fold higher antimicrobial activity in comparison to others. GC-MS analysis of Acacia nilotica twig revealed the presence of various bioactive such as limonene, stigmasterol, linoleic acid, ricinoleic acid, santalol, undecylenic acid. Evaluation of antimicrobial potential of medicinal plants may thrive a safe, inexpensive and efficient therapeutic in developing formulation for oral care products