• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.65 no.4
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• pp.337-341
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• 2022

In this study, the effect of the combined use of a lipid-soluble n-hexane extract of red ginseng marc (HERGM) and water-soluble arginine, which exhibits anticaries activity, on the growth of Streptococccus mutans was investigated. As a result of checkerboard assay, HERGM and arginine showed a synergistic effect in inhibiting the growth of S. mutans with a fractional inhibitory concentration index of 0.396. Combination treatments of HERGM and arginine resulted in leakage of nucleic acid components and decrease in the viable cell counts of S. mutans, all of which were proportional to the concentration of HERGM. In conclusion, the synergistic effect of HERGM and arginine on the growth inhibition of S. mutans is mainly attributed to HERGM.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.64 no.4
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• pp.357-362
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• 2021

In this study, to investigate the anticariogenic effect of red ginseng, the antibacterial effect, cell adherence and biofilm formation inhibitory effect of n-hexane extract of red ginseng marc (HERGM) against Streptococcus mutans, the causative bacteria of caries, were measured. The growth of S. mutans was inhibited in proportion to the concentration of HERGM, and was hardly observed at a concentration above 125 ㎍/mL (MIC =125 ㎍/mL). It was found that HERGM acts on the cell membrane and the nucleic acid component of the cell was leaked. In addition, HERGM inhibited the adherence and biofilm formation of S. mutans by more than 90% at a concentration of 125 ㎍/mL. GTase activity was completely inhibited at a concentration of 50 ㎍/mL of HERGM. In conclusion, it was found that HERGM commonly inhibited the growth and biofilm formation of S. mutans.