Antibacterial Potency of Aqueous Plant Extracts against Streptococcus Mutans

Abstract

IntroductIon oral diseases continue to be a major health problem worldwide. dental caries and periodontal diseases are among the most important global oral health problems. Bacterial plaque plays the primary role in the pathogenesis of the disease. dental plaque is a general term for the diverse microbial community (predominantly bacteria) found on the tooth surface, embedded in a matrix of polymers of bacterial and salivary origin. Plaque develops naturally on teeth, and forms part of the defense systems of the host by helping to prevent colonization of enamel by exogenous (and often pathogenic) microorganisms (colonization resistance) (1-3). As the principal etiological agent of human dental caries, Streptococcus mutans has developed multiple mechanisms to colonize the tooth surface and, under certain conditions, to become a numerically significant species in cariogenic biofilms (1, 4). In drug discovery, most studies have examined on the antimicrobial potential of medicinal plants and other natural products measured as either killing or inhibiting the microbial growth. natural products including medicinal plants are still major sources of innovative therapeutic agents for the various conditions of human diseases. the populations in rural developing countries rely heavily on traditional healers and medicinal plants as a basis to treat various maladies in spite of the availability of modern medicine. the world health organization reported that 80% of the world populations rely mainly on traditional medicine. Herbal medicine of natives in every country forms a major part of the world heritage of the plant material medical (5).

Extraction Methods and Inhibition Studies of Ten Plant Extracts on Nine Yam Rot Pathogenic Microorganisms

“…This is most probably that some of the active ingredients are denatured by heat. This result is in agreement with the findings from other researchers, who observed that Zones of inhibition were also diminished by heating the extract, although its antimicrobial activity was not totally lost when heated [38] [39] [40].…”

Inhibition effect of Rosella (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) petal extract in Hard-Candy against Streptococcus mutans

“…Tannin works by inhibiting the production of the enzyme S. mutans. Saponins have the effect of releasing proteins and enzymes from within S. mutans cells (25). In addition to this, the antibacterial mechanism of anthocyanin contained in the rossele petal extract works by entering the inner membrane and decreasing the activity of alkaline phosphatase (AKP), adenosine triphosphate (ATPase) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in inhibiting the growth of pathogens (26).…”