Abstract
This study investigates the in-vitro efficacy of two plant-origin homeopathic medicines, Psoralea corylifolia and Ailanthus grandulosa, against Streptococcus mutans, a bacterium associated with dental caries and various streptococcal infections. As antibiotic resistance continues to rise, alternative treatments such as homeopathy are gaining attention. Both mother tinctures and potentized forms of the remedies (6C, 30C, 200C, 1M, 10M) were tested using the agar well diffusion method to assess their antibacterial activity. The results showed that the mother tinctures of both plants exhibited significant antibacterial effects, with Psoralea corylifolia demonstrating a larger zone of inhibition than Ailanthus grandulosa. Higher potencies of the remedies showed reduced efficacy, suggesting that lower dilutions or mother tinctures may be more suitable for bacterial infections. While these homeopathic medicines did not surpass the efficacy of conventional antibiotics, they present potential as complementary therapies in addressing antibiotic resistance. The study highlights the need for further research to explore the mechanisms of action and clinical applications of plant-based homeopathic treatments for bacterial infections.
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