Evaluation and insights into chitosan antimicrobial activity against anaerobic oral pathogens

The objective of this study was to assess the antimicrobial capability of non-chemically altered chitosan as an alternative to traditional antimicrobials used in the treatment of oral infections. The action mechanism of chitosan was also ascertained. High and low molecular weight chitosan showed antimicrobial activity at low concentrations for all tested bacteria with the MICs varying between 1 and 7 mg/ml with a drop of efficacy relatively to the action of LMW chitosan. In addition chitosan showed also to be an effective bactericidal presenting bactericidal effect within 8 h at the latest. Additionally the evaluation of chitosan's action mechanism showed that both MWs acted upon the bacterial cell wall and were not capable of interacting with the intracellular substances, as showed by the inefficacy obtained in the flocculation assay.

► Chitosan inhibited all studied anaerobic pathogenic bacteria.
► Chitosan presented low MIC and MBC values ranging from 1 to 7 mg/ml.
►  Chitosan presented swift bactericidal action.
► Chitosan's action mechanism appears to be focused on the cell membrane.
► Chitosan is an effective antimicrobial of anaerobic pathogenic bacteria.