A student-led research paper from the College of Dental Medicine has sparked worldwide media interest after being highlighted in a scholarly op-ed, rapidly becoming one of the most talked-about works in its field.

 

The systematic review, titled “The Clinical Antimicrobial Efficacy of Garlic Extract (Allium sativum) Compared to Chlorhexidine Mouthwash: A Systematic Review,” was published in the Journal of Herbal Medicine (December 2025). The project was conducted by Bachelor of Dental Surgery students Youmna Ahmed Abdelaal, Heba Talal Saeed, Malak Ahmad Elayyan, Sara Mahmoud Bkairat, and Saif Youssef Dib, under the mentorship of Professor Suhail Al-Amad from the College of Dental Medicine. Together, they examined whether garlic extract could offer an effective antimicrobial alternative to chlorhexidine, one of dentistry’s most widely used but often poorly tolerated mouthwashes.

 

Soon after publication, an expert op-ed discussing the study was picked up by major international news platforms. Within hours it began circulating globally, and coverage has continued to grow. According to Altmetric, which tracks the online attention received by scholarly publications, the article has now reached an Altmetric Attention Score of 176. This makes it:

 

 

So far, the work has been covered in 24 news stories from 24 outlets across multiple continents and languages. Among the platforms featuring the study are Newsweek, Daily Mail (United Kingdom), Medical Xpress, News-Medical.net, Mirage News (Australia), EurekAlert!, sustainability and environmental outlets such as GreenSavers (Portugal), Portuguese and Brazilian news portals, including Metrópoles and ContilNet Notícias, as well as multiple Russian and European science and health news services.

 

The coverage consistently highlights the key message of the review: garlic-based mouthwash shows promising antimicrobial efficacy comparable to standard chemical mouthwashes such as chlorhexidine and may offer a more natural alternative for certain patients.

 

Professor Susan Al Kawas, Acting Dean of the College of Dental Medicine, praised the student team for this achievement, noting that the international response “demonstrates how rigorous student research, when well designed and clinically relevant, can genuinely influence global conversations about everyday health practices.”

 

This milestone also reflects the college’s growing research footprint, with student-driven projects increasingly contributing to high-impact publications and international visibility. The impressive Altmetric performance of this paper, along with its extensive media reach, underscores the college’s commitment to nurturing inquiry-driven education, critical appraisal of evidence, and innovation in preventive oral healthcare.

 

The college warmly congratulates Youmna, Heba, Malak, Sara, Saif, and Professor Suhail Al-Amad on this outstanding achievement and thanks the colleague whose op-ed helped bring their work to the attention of audiences around the world.