Malva sylvestris Extract Shows Promising Anticaries Effects Comparable to Fluoride: Study
A recent study has found that Malva sylvestris extract did not significantly reduce Lactobacillus spp. counts, indicating no direct antimicrobial effect against these cariogenic bacteria. However, the extract significantly reduced enamel and dentin demineralization, demonstrating an anticaries effect comparable to that of fluoride. These findings suggest that M. sylvestris may help prevent dental caries through mechanisms other than direct antibacterial activity. The study provides important in situ evidence supporting the potential of Malva sylvestris as a promising biological agent for caries prevention and warrants further clinical investigation. The study was published in the Journal of Dentistry by Aline S. and colleagues.
For the clinical study, volunteers had to use special intraoral palatal devices that contained specimens of bovine enamel and dentin and were divided into three phases using an infrastructure of 72 specimens. The creation of a risky oral environment was achieved through the possibility of the natural formation of a plaque biofilm together with sucrose exposure on a daily basis. Within a set of 7-day cycles, the volunteers were applying one of three types of experimental treatments two times a day – 2.5% MS extract, fluoride control (225 ppm F) or placebo (P). After each active phase, the researchers collected the formed plaque biofilm and determined the Colony Forming Units (CFU log₁₀/mL) for Lactobacillus spp. and mutans streptococci. Lastly, they calculated the percentages of mineral loss and lesion depths with the help of transverse microradiography (TMR).
Key findings:
- MS did not affect the numbers of Lactobacillus spp. (CFU log₁₀/mL: enamel 6.63±0.81; dentin 6.68±0.92) as compared to P (6.63±0.70;6.62±0.51).
- As for F, there was no difference either (6.29±0.75;6.32±0.41; ANOVA/Tukey, p>0.38).
- The information about mutans streptococci was indefinite.
- In enamel, both MS (2320.8±768.2% vol·µm; 101.6±27.0 µm) and F (1777.3±733.3% vol·µm; 95.8±23.5 µm) resulted in a considerable decrease in mineral loss as well as lesion depth in comparison with P (3517.2±1119.9% vol·µm; 138.6±19.5 µm; ANOVA/Tukey, p≤0.0003).
- In dentin, MS led to a significant reduction of mineral loss (322.5 [250–580] % vol·µm) and lesion depth (30.1 [15–42.2] µm) compared to P (880 [580–1705];58.3 [32.2–88.6] µKruskal–Wallis/Dunn, p≤0.001).
- F, however, did not lessen mineral loss (587.5 [305–720]; 25.2 [16.5–38.8] µm) compared to P (p>0.05).
To conclude, the extract of Malva sylvestris showed no antimicrobial activity against the lactobacilli but decreased enamel and dentin demineralization significantly, indicating the anticaries properties of the studied product. The exact statistical data obtained through the experiment are of critical value and constitute an empirical base for current preventive dentistry.
Reference:
Braga, A. S., Figueira, L. G. T., Kim, R. R., Vertuan, M., Esteves-Oliveira, M., & Magalhães, A. C. (2026). Pre-clinical evaluation of the anticaries effect of an experimental Malva sylvestris extract mouthwash using a cariogenic model in situ. Journal of Dentistry, 106879, 106879. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdent.2026.106879
