Screening for Dental Caries: Preventive Activities of Medicinal Plants against Streptococcus mutansA. Chaiya, S. Saraya,W. Chuakul, and R. Temsiririrkkul,*
-
Nine medicinal plants – Glycyrrhiza glabra L., Terminalia chebula Retz var. chebula, Terminalia bellirica (Gaertn.) Roxb., Phyllanthus emblica L., Ocimum tenuiflorum L., Ocimum africanum Lour., Mentha arvensis L. var. piperascens (Malinv. ex Holmes) Malinv. ex L.H. Bailey, Mentha pulegium L., and Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & L.M. Perry – were selected. To determine their effectiveness in preventing dental caries, ethanol extracts of these plants were screened for activity against Streptococcus mutans (DMST18777) using agar disk diffusion method. Three extracts –T. bellirica, G. glabra and S. aromaticum– showed moderate effectiveness at a concentration of 20 mg/ml (10–15 mm inhibition zone). G. glabra was the most effective, exhibiting minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of less than 12.5 mg/ml and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of 25 mg/ml. A glass tube or smooth surface method was used to examine adherence inhibitory activity. Four extracts –T. bellirica, G. glabra, S. aromaticum and P. emblica– demonstrated strong effectiveness, distinguished by a clear glass surface after incubation. Phytochemical components (i.e. tannins and flavonoids) were found in most of the extracts. However, the active components against S. mutans should be further studied.
Keyword:
Dental caries, Streptococcus mutans, Terminalia bellirica, Medicinal plants
Download full paper (PDF File size: 1,036.35 KB.)
|
