# The Effect of Coconut and Frankincense Oils on the Biofilm Growth of Streptococcus mutans

## TL;DR

This study found that certain types of coconut and frankincense oils can reduce biofilm growth of Streptococcus mutans, a bacteria linked to dental issues.

## Contribution

The novel contribution is the identification of specific coconut and frankincense oil types that show antibiofilm activity against S. mutans.

## Key findings

- Uplifting frankincense pure essential oil at 1:3 dilution significantly inhibited S. mutans biofilm growth.
- Organic refined, organic virgin, and organic extra virgin coconut oils reduced biofilm levels, though not significantly.
- Frankincense pure essential oil in fractionated coconut oil and cocos nucifera coconut oil showed no biofilm inhibition.

## Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the antibiofilm effect of coconut and frankincense oils.

Different types of coconut (organic refined, cocos nucifera, organic virgin, and organic extra virgin) and frankincense (frankincense pure essential oil in fractionated coconut oil and uplifting frankincense pure essential) oils were investigated. Serial dilutions (1:3, 1:6, 1:12, 1:24, 1:48, 1:96, and 1:192) were created from each oil and incubated with an overnight culture of
S. mutans. The total growth and biofilms absorbance were measured at 595 and 490 nm, respectively. One-way ANOVA and Tukey tests were used for data analysis.

The greatest biofilm inhibition was observed in the uplifting frankincense pure essential oil at 1:3 dilution (0.67±0.12), which was significantly lower (
p<0.01) than the control (1.51 ± 0.07). In addition, organic refined (0.96±0.13), organic virgin (1.21±0.28), and organic extra virgin (1.07±0.17) were associated with less biofilms compared to the control, but without a statistical significance. Frankincense pure essential oil in fractionated coconut oil and cocos nucifera coconut oil did not show biofilm inhibition.

Organic refined, organic virgin, and extra virgin coconut oils, and uplifting frankincense essential oil, effectively reduced
S. mutans levels
in vitro, with the highest amount of biofilm reduction associated with uplifting frankincense essential oil.