http://www.revistadechimie.ro REV.CHIM.(Bucharest)♦68♦No. 9 ♦2017 2060 The Synergistic Antioxidant Effect and Antimicrobial Efficacity of Propolis, Myrrh and Chlorhexidine as Beneficial Toothpaste Components ELENA LACRAMIOARA LISA 1 , GETA CARAC 2 *, VASILICA BARBU 3 , SILVIA ROBU 1 1 Dunarea de Jos University of Galati, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, 35 A.I. Cuza Str., 800010, Galati, Romania 2 Dunarea de Jos University of Galati, Faculty of Sciences and Environment, 47 Domneasca Str., 800008, Galati, Romania 3 Dunarea de Jos University of Galati, Faculty of Food Science and Engineering, 111 Domneasca Str., 800201, Galati, Romania Toothpastes containing different components which could have beneficial effects on oral health and the identification of better composition are always a research challenge. Our study aims are to evaluate the synergistic effect of propolis, myrrh, and chlorhexidine, separated and combined in some formulated toothpaste. To assess the electrochemical capacity by monitoring of physico-chemical parameters (pH conductivity), the mixture of these components in toothpaste into artificial saliva solution was performed in ambient medium and at 37 o C. The antioxidant activity and the antimicrobial potential in vitro of toothpastes formulated against microorganisms that frequently colonize the oral cavity was performed also. It has been found that mixtures of chlorhexidine, propolis, and myrrh exhibit synergistic antioxidant activity with better potential than some commercial toothpaste, also the antibacterial activity shown that this activity is maintained in time against some strains. Keywords : antioxidant, antimicrobial, chlorhexidine, propolis, myrrh, toothpaste, The most common oral complaints among the population are gingival inflammation and cavities. This pathology is largely generated by the presence of bacterial plaque that can lead to the appearance of caries, tartar and gingival inflammation [1]. The toothpaste has the role of reducing bacterial plaque, reducing inflammatory conditions and gum bleeding, and incorporating a series of vegetal extracts or volatile oils with various beneficial properties in the composition of such toothpastes, addressing patients suffering from gingivitis or periodontitis [2,3]. The p H of the toothpaste varies depending on the ingredients it contains from slightly acidic p H to lower alkaline p H. Thus, soap based toothpastes have a p H of between 9.5 and 10.5. Those based on foaming agents, softener flavors 7.5-9.0 and those with fluoride salts have an acidic pH of between 4.6 and 5.5 [4]. Toothpaste contains a variety of components, the main being abrasives (aluminum hydroxide, calcium carbonate), fluorides (sodium fluoride), detergents (surfactants) and antimicrobial agents (chlorhexidine). In the toothpaste, you can also add natural ingredients of eucalyptus oil, myrrh, propolis tincture and essential oils. Chlorhexidine (CHX) is the antimicrobial agent most familiar to dental professionals for prevention of dental caries. CHX is a cationic biguanide with a low germicidal efficacy against the bacterial plaque and it has been used for more than twenty years for its action against plaque and gum disease [5]. It exhibits prolonged absorption and maintenance on tooth surfaces, can attach to salivary glycoproteins and thus reduces bacterial plaque formation. Chlorhexidine has duration of action ranging from 8 to 12 h. Bacteriostatically acts at concentrations of 0.1 g/mL and bactericidal in concentration of 100 g//mL on gram-positive germs, aerobic negative gram and optionally anaerobic. It is fungicidal and fungistatic on fungi and yeasts on Candida Albicans and virucides including HIV . Chlorhexidine is indicated for: prevention of bacterial plaque deposition, in acute gingivitis; in marginal periodontal abscesses; in chronic gingivitis and chronic marginal periodontitis [3]. It is incorporated into the toothpaste composition at a concentration of 0.04% to inhibit the formation of the bacterial plaque and prevent its consequence, dental caries and periodontitis [3,5,6]. Propolis is a resinous substance collected by Ap is m e llife ra from flowers and buds plant, with which they cover holes and cracks in the hive, defend against bacteria and other microorganisms. It is a popular medicine that has a wide range of biological activities because of its chemical components, its strong pharmacological properties and low toxicity. Numerous propolis biological properties have been reported, including cytotoxic, antiherpetic, antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-HIV [7-9]. Due to the wide range of biological activities, propolis is used in food and beverages and for improving health and preventing disease [8-11]. The medical use of propolis has led to an increased interest in its chemical composition and botanical origin, as flavonoids, polyphenolic compounds, have been identified so far. Polyphenolic compounds vary depending on their structure and concentration, depending on the region of production, availability of sources of vegetable resin collection. This broad spectrum of therapeutic effects makes propolis a potential candidate in several clinical trials. Clinical trials are also ongoing to check the effects of propolis in preventing and treating diseases [10-12]. Myrrh is a resinous substance, obtained by the growth of exotic shrubs: Styrax Benzoin, Styrax macrothyrsus, Styrax paralleloneurus, Styrax tokinozis, Commiphora Myrrha from the Styracaceae family, which is used in medicine [13-15]. The word myrrh originates in the ancient Hebrew word m yrrh , which means bitterness , myrrh being a bitter substance like most of the resinous ones. Myrrh is a very compact, juicy juice that solidifies in contact with * email: getac@ugal.com