Combating Biofilm by Targeting Its Formation and Dispersal Using Gallic Acid Against Single and Multispecies Bacteria Causing Dental Plaque

Exploring biological agents to control biofilm is a vital alternative in combating pathogenic bacteria that cause dental plaque. This study was focused on antimicrobial, biofilm formation and biofilm dispersal efficacy of Gallic acid (GA) against bacteria, including spp., , spp., spp., , and and multispecies bacteria. Biofilm was qualitatively and quantitatively assessed by crystal violet assay, florescence microscopy (bacterial biomass (µm), surface coverage (%)) and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). It was exhibited that GA (1-200 mg/L) can reduce bacterial growth. However, higher concentrations (100-200 mg/L) markedly reduced (86%) bacterial growth and biofilm formation (85.5%), while GA did not exhibit any substantial dispersal effects on pre-formed biofilm. Further, GA (20-200 mg/L) exhibited 93.43% biomass reduction and 88.6% ( < 0.05) EPS (polysaccharide) reduction. Microscopic images were processed with BioImageL software. It was revealed that biomass surface coverage was reduced to 2% at 200 mg/L of GA and that 13,612 (µm) biomass was present for control, while it was reduced to 894 (µm) at 200 mg/L of GA. Thus, this data suggest that GA have antimicrobial and biofilm control potential against single and multispecies bacteria causing dental plaque.