• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.27-32
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• 2005

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the inhibitory effects of Resina Pini against Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) that is one of the major causes of dental caries and oral diseases. Topically applied Resina Pini (RP) would be incorporated in saliva and thus the factor associated with water solubility should be considered. In this paper, therefore, effects of various treatment for RP and activities of water extracts from unprocessed and processed RP were compared. The crude RP (RP1) and the recrystallized RP (RP2) in ethanol solution showed strong antimicrobial activities (d.>15mm) against S. mutans. All RP samples exhibited considerable inhibitory effect against glucosyltransferase produced by S. mutans $(IC_{50}=91.2\;to\;276.2\;{\mu}g/ml)$. The very considerable increase in cellular permeability of S. mutans was observed with RP1, RP2 and their water extracts. These results suggest that RP1 and RP2 may be a potential source for pharmaceutical products used for prevention and/or treatment of dental caries and periodontal disease.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.32 no.2 s.89
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• pp.192-197
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• 2006

This study was performed to investigate anti-microbial activity of soybean extract against oral microbes, and to determine the minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) for microbes causing oral diseases. The soybean extract was prepared using ethyl acetate and it was treated with 16 types of oral microbes at a concentration of 5.00 mg/ml (0.5%). The MIC of soybean extract for three major microbes causing oral diseases was determined. The anti-microbial activity and MIC were measured using broth dilution method. Significant reduction of microbial activities of 9 types oral microbes when the soybean extract was added to the broth compared to the control (p<0.01). The extract showed higher anti-microbial activity against some anaerobic strains (P. gingivalis and P. intermieia). S. mutans, which causes dental caries, showed MIC at a concentration of 40 mg/ml for the soybean extract. P. gingivalis, which causes adult periodontal disease, showed MIC at a concentration of 20 mg/ml for the extract. C. albicans, which causes denture stomatitis and angular stomatitis, showed MIC at a concentration of 20 mg/ml for the extract. These results indicate that soybean extract showed anti-microbial effort against 9 types of oral microbes, and the anti-microbial effect of the extract against oral microbes was stronger against fungi than against bacteria. The anti-microbial mechanism of soybean extract against oral microbes should be investigated, and more research for clinical application is required at a level of actual intake.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.153-168
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• 2009

This study was executed to find out the outcome of Incremental Dental Care from September to November, 2004. 40 visitors to oral health center were examined on the oral conditions every week, seven times during above-mentioned period. Various tests were practiced in order to check their oral conditions before and after IDC such as tooth-brushing method/frequency/duration, calculus index, PHP index, halitosis and dental caries activity. Question and answer sheets were presented to student dental hygienists and 40 visitors respectively after IDC program. Results obtained are as follows. 1. Rotation method of toothbrushing increased from 27.8% to 88.9%. for men and increased from 27.3% to 95% for women. 2. Toothbrushing frequency increased from 2.8 times to 3.0 times a day for men and increased from 2.6 times to 3.1 times for women. Toothbrushing duration increased from 2.3 minutes to 2.8 minutes for men and increased from 2.1 minutes to 2.9 minutes for women. 3. Calculus index reduced from 0.5 to 0.1 for men and reduced from 0.7 to 0 for women. PHP index reduced from 3.7 to 3.0 for men and reduced 3.2 to 1.7 for women. However, halitosis didn't mark any significant difference before and after IDC. 4. Saliva buffering capacity of medium plus showed no change for men(94.5%), however increased from 95.4% to 100% for women. Dental caries activity of medium plus in S.mutans reduced by 4.3 times(72.2% to 16.7%) for men and reduced by 2 times(36.4% to 18.1%) for women. LB test results reduced by 1.5 times(50% to 33.3%) for men and reduced by 2.5 times(50% to 18.1%) for women. Alban's test results reduced by 1.4 times(83.3% to 61.1%) for men and reduced by 1.2 times(81.8% to 68.2%) for women. 5. All participants including visitors and students realized the importance of IDC and expressed a great satisfaction with IDC program. In conclusion, it is considered very necessary that IDC program should be maintained and extended to whole country so as to enhance the peoples' oral health conditions.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.109-114
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• 2014

Objectives: Recurrent caries was partly ascribed to lack of antibacterial properties in composite resin. Silver and zinc nanoparticles are considered to be broad-spectrum antibacterial agents. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antibacterial properties of composite resins containing 1% silver and zinc-oxide nanoparticles on Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus. Materials and Methods: Ninety discoid tablets containing 0%, 1% nano-silver and 1% nano zinc-oxide particles were prepared from flowable composite resin (n = 30). The antibacterial properties of composite resin discs were evaluated by direct contact test. Diluted solutions of Streptococcus mutans (PTCC 1683) and Lactobacillus (PTCC 1643) were prepared. 0.01 mL of each bacterial species was separately placed on the discs. The discs were transferred to liquid culture media and were incubated at $37^{\circ}C$ for 8 hr. 0.01 mL of each solution was cultured on blood agar and the colonies were counted. Data was analyzed with Kruskall-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests. Results: Composites containing nano zinc-oxide particles or silver nanoparticles exhibited higher antibacterial activity against Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus compared to the control group (p < 0.05). The effect of zinc-oxide on Streptococcus mutans was significantly higher than that of silver (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the antibacterial activity against Lactobacillus between composites containing silver nanoparticles and those containing zinc-oxide nanoparticles. Conclusions: Composite resins containing silver or zinc-oxide nanoparticles exhibited antibacterial activity against Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Life Science Conference
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• 2005.04a
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• pp.158-158
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• 2005

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.57-63
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• 2014

The purpose of this study is to evaluate salivary flow rate, salivary pH, and cariogenic activity using unstimulated saliva of the head and neck cancer patients. Twenty three cancer patients (19 males, 4 females) who had undergone chemotherapy and radiation therapy and twenty four healthy volunteers (14 males, 10 females) as a control were included. Salivary flow rate, salivary pH, and cariogenic activity using unstimulated saliva were examined. Compared to saliva of the control group, salivary flow rate (p<0.001) and salivary pH (p<0.001) were significantly lower in head and neck cancer patients. The colony counts of Lactobacilli was higher in head and neck cancer patients (p<0.05) than in control group. These salivary factors and cariogenic activity can increase the prevalence of dental caries in head and neck cancer patients.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.33 no.2 s.130
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• pp.72-77
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• 2005

Streptococcus mutans is known as a strong cariogenic bacterium and produces dental caries. This study was carried out to develop anticariogenic agents from Callistemon citrinus. Crude extracts and thier various solvent fractions of the plant extracts were tested for the antibacterial activity against S. mutans. The anticariogenic activity was evaluated with by paper disc diffusion method and minimal inhibition concentration (MIC). The extract from the fruit and its hexane fraction showed a strong inhibitory effect on the growth of S. mutans and the MICs were 31.2 and $3.9{\mu}g/m{\ell}$, respectively.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.1148-1153
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• 2007

Streptococcus mutans is considered one of the primary etiologic agents of dental caries. we studied the effect of the ethanol extracts of Tribuli fructus (T. fructus) on the growth, biofilm formation, acid production, adhesion and insoluble glucan synthesis of S. mutans. The ethanol extracts of T. fructus showed concentration dependent inhibitory activity against the growth and acid production of S. mutans, and produced significant inhibition at the concentration of 0.025, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.5 mg/ml compared to the control group. In the biofilm assay, the ethanol extracts of T. fructus inhibited formation of biofilm synthesized by S. mutans at the concentration of 0.05 mg/ml. The extracts markedly inhibited S. mutans adherence to HA treated with saliva, and cell adherence was repressed by more than 50% at the concentration 0.05 mg/ml. On the activity of glucosyltransferase which synthesizes water insoluble glucan form sucrose, ethanol extract of T. fructus showed more than 10% inhibition over the concentration of 0.025 mg/ml. Hence, we conclude that T. fructus might be a candidate of anticaries agent. Further studies are necessary to clarify the active constituents of T. fructus responsible for such biomolecular activities.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.8
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• pp.1070-1075
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• 2013

Streptococcus mutans is the primary etiological agent of dental caries. The antimicrobial peptide $\small{D}$-Nal-Pac-525 was designed by replacing the tryptophans of the Trp-rich peptide Pac-525 with $\small{D}$-${\beta}$-naphthyalanines. To assess the effect of $\small{D}$-Nal-Pac-525 on cariogenic bacteria, the activity of $\small{D}$-Nal-Pac-525 on the growth of S. mutans and its biofilm formation were examined. $\small{D}$-Nal-Pac-525 showed robust antimicrobial activity against S. mutans (minimum inhibitory concentration of 4 ${\mu}g/ml$). Using scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, it was shown that $\small{D}$-Nal-Pac-525 caused morphological changes and damaged the cell membrane of S. mutans. $\small{D}$-Nal-Pac-525 inhibited biofilm formation of S. mutans at 2 ${\mu}g/ml$. The results of this study suggest that $\small{D}$-Nal-Pac-525 has great potential for clinical application as a dental caries-preventing agent.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.27-32
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• 2016

Streptococcus mutans plays a virtal role in trigering dental caries establishment due to its ability to synthesize two significant factors. The two factors are organic acids and glucans. The former demineralized dental enamel and the latter mediates the attachment of bacteria to tooth surface. It is believed that demineralization of dental enamel and attachment of bacteria are the crucial events that indicate and develop dental caries. For this reason, we studied the effect of the ethanol extracts of Radix Pulsatillae on the growth and acid production of S. mutans. Ethanol extracts of the Radix Pulsatillae showed concentration dependent inhibitory activity against the growth and acid production of S. mutans, and produced significant inhibition compared to the control groups (p<0.05). The extracts inhibited S. mutans adherence to hydroxyapatite treated with saliva, and cell adherence was repressed by Radix Pulsatillae. the ethanol extract of Radix Pulsatillae showed remarkable inhibition of glucosyltransferase, which synthesizes water insoluble glucan form sucrose. Phytochemical analysis showed Radix Pulsatillae contained major components such as phenolic compounds, glycosides, steroids, terpenoid, and saponin. These results suggest that Radix Pulsatillae may have anti-cariogenic properties, which may be related with major components such as phenolic compounds, glycosides, steroids, terpenoid, and saponin.