Garlic extract demonstrates antimicrobial efficacy comparable to other widely used antiseptics and disinfectants, such as chlorhexidine, UAE researchers have found.
Published in the Journal of Herbal Medicine, the study by a team at the University of Sharjah suggests that while garlic-based mouthwash may cause more discomfort than chlorhexidine, it offers longer-lasting residual effects.
“Chlorhexidine is widely used as a gold standard mouthwash but is associated with side effects and concerns over antimicrobial resistance,” the authors note.
“Garlic (Allium sativum), known for (its) natural antimicrobial properties, has emerged as a potential alternative.”
The findings are based on a systematic review of the literature in which the authors compare the antimicrobial efficacy of garlic extract with chlorhexidine in clinical practice, assessing its viability as a herbal substitute.
“The effectiveness varied based on mouthwash concentration and duration of application, contributing to differences in outcomes,” the review revealed.
“Some studies favored chlorhexidine for maintaining higher plaque/salivary pH, while others reported garlic extract to be more effective at certain concentrations. However, garlic mouthwash may cause greater discomfort.”
Although garlic extract is not without side effects, they are generally less severe than those associated with chemical compounds. Reported adverse reactions include a burning sensation and unpleasant odor, which may affect patients’ willingness to replace chlorhexidine with garlic-based alternatives.
Despite these limitations, the review provides substantial evidence of garlic extract’s clinical antimicrobial effectiveness, “with significant reductions in bacterial counts from baseline … suggesting the possible use of garlic extract mouthwash as a viable alternative to chlorhexidine in certain contexts”.
