• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.207-216
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• 2005

Mutans streptococci have been reported to be implicated in dental caries. Of these streptococcal species, Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus are most commonly found in human dental caries. Prevalence of these bacterial species in dental caries is found to be varied in different races and countries. Therefore, importance of these bacteria in dental caries remains to be determined. The present study was peformed to detect S. mutans and S. sobrinus in 52 Korean children with dental caries between 2 to 6 years of age. For the study, plaque samples were collected from caries-active(CA) and caries-free(CF) teeth of each subject. DNA was extracted from the plaques and amplified by polymerase chain reaction(PCR) using primers corresponding to dex and gtf genes. The results obtained from the study were as follows: 1. Of 52 children, 37 children (71.2%) were found to harbor S. mutans and/or S. sobrinus. 2. Of the MS-infected 37 children, 3 children (5.8%) harbored S. mutans and/or S. sobrinus in the CF plaques only, 22 children (42.3%) in the CA plaques only and 12 children (23.1%) in both CF and CA plaques. 3. S mutans and/or S. sobrinus were detected in 34 CA plaques (65.4%), while 15 in CF plaques (28.8%) 4. In the case of CF plaques, 8 plaques (15.4%) were observed to harbor S. mutans only, 6 plaques (11.5%) to harbor S. sobrinus only and 1 plaque (1.9%) to harbor both species. 5. Of CA plaques, 24 plaques (46.2%) were detected to have S. mutans only, 2 plaques (3.8%) to have S. sobrinus only and 8 plaques (15.4%) to have both species. 6. In comparison with the efficiency of two different primers for PCR, it was found that the primer based on gtf gene was more effective in detecting S. mutans, while the primer corresponding to dex gene was better for S. sobrinus. Overall results suggest that MS appears to be important in dental caries of the Korean children, and S. mutans is more closely associated with than dental caries as compared to S. sobrinus.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.490-496
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• 2006

This study aimed to evaluate in vitro effects of Rheum undulatum L. root on the development of dental caries, especially its effects on viability, dental plaque formation, and glycolytic acid production of Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus. Methanol extract of Rheum undulatum L. root and its fractions were prepared and tested. Among the test extract and fractions, dichloromethane fraction (DF) showed the most active antibacterial activity (inhibition zone: 13-17 mm) against S. mutans and S. sobrinus in a disc diffusion method. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of DF against these bacteria ranged from 0.25 to 0.5 mg/mL. Furthermore, DF significantly inhibited the caries-inducing factors of these bacteria. At sub-MIC levels, DF inhibited in vitro dental plaque formation by S. mutans and S. sobrinus ($IC_{50}$= 0.079 and 0.142 mg/mL, respectively), which was caused, in part, by the inhibitory effect on the activity of glucosyltransferases. A significant reduction of glycolytic acid production was found at the concentration as low as 0.032 mg/mL for S. mutans and 0.063 mg/mL for S. sobrinus. The possible bioactive compounds that are inducing in vitro anti-cariogenic activity of DF are unknown. Based on the preliminary phytochemical analysis, the activity of DF may be related to the presence of anthraquinones, cardiac glycosides, coumarines, sterols/terpenes, and phenolics. These results indicate that DF is probably useful for the control of dental plaque formation and subsequent dental caries development.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.123-127
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• 2018

Polyphenon 60 refers to the mixture of catechins present in green tea. The aim of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial activities of polyphenon 60 against 4 strains of Streptococcus mutans and 2 strains of Streptococcus sorbrinus, which are the major causative bacteria of dental caries. The minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values of polyphenon 60 for S. mutans and S. sobrinus were determined and the effect of biofilm formation inhibition of that was evaluated. The MBC value of polyphenon 60 against the bacterial strains was 2.5 mg/ml except for one particular strain, S. mutans KCOM 1128 for which the value was 1.25 mg/ml. The results of biofilm formation inhibition assay revealed that polyphenon 60 inhibited biofilm formation more than 90% at a concentration of 2.5 mg/ml. It was apparent that polyphenon exhibited biofilm formation inhibition activity along with bactericidal effect against S. mutans and S. sobrinus. Therefore, it is proposed that polyphenon 60 as one of the components of bactericidal agents could be useful in developing oral hygiene products, toothpaste or gargling solution.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.306-312
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• 2016

Gargle solution has typically been used for the prevention of oral infectious disease such as dental caries and periodontitis. However, the use of most gargle solutions is controversial in application for children because some gargle solutions have harmful side effects. Electrolyzed water is generated by passed an electric current and has antimicrobial activity. The purpose of this study was to investigate and compare the efficacy of electrolyzed water in various conditions for eliminating cariogenic bacteria. Electrolyzed water was generated by a platinum electrode in the presence of sodium chloride at various concentrations. Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus were cultivated into a brain heart infusion broth. After harvesting planktonic bacteria, the pellets were treated with the electrolyzed water and commercial gargle solutions and plated on a mitis-salivarius agar plate. Also, the anti-biofilm activity of the electrolyzed water and commercial gargle solutions was investigated after biofilm formation of S. mutans and S. sobrinus. The bacteria in the biofilm were plated onto a mitis-salivarius agar plate. The plates were incubated, and the colony forming unit was measured. The electrolyzed water containing sodium chloride showed significant antibacterial activity against S. mutans and S. sobrinus as well as some gargle solutions. Furthermore, the electrolyzed water had more disruptive effect on the biofilm of S. mutans and S. sobrinus and killed more bacteria in the biofilm than commercial gargle solutions. The results demonstrate that electrolyzed water may be a useful gargle solution for prevention of dental caries.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2009

Essential oils are mixture of volatile, lipophilic compounds originating from plants. Essential oils have potential biological effects, i.e., antibacterial, antifungal, spasmolytic and antiplasmodial activities and insect-repellent property. In this study, five essential oils, namely R, LG, FR, O, and NM, extracted from various aromatic plants were used to test their antimicrobial activity against the oral microorganisms. The effects of essential oils were investigated against eight important bacteria, Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Streptococcus sanguis (S. sanguis), Streptococcus anginosus (S. anginosus), Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans (A. actinomycetemcomitans), Streptococcus sobrinus (S. sobrinus), Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermidis), and Escherichia coli (E. coli). Essential oils, except NM, effectively inhibited the growth of tested oral pathogenic microorganisms dose-dependently. However, the essential oils didn't show a significant inhibitory effect against E. coli and S. epidermidis. Consequently, these results represented that essential oil-mediated anti-microbial activity was prominent against the oral pathogenic bacteria. For example, minimum bactericidal concentration(MBC) of R, LG, FR oil against A. actinomycetemcomitans was very low as 0.078 mg/mL. In addition, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of R, LG, FR, O oil against S. mutans was low as 0.156 mg/mL in vitro.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.180-189
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• 2004

Chlorhexidine dihydrochloride and sodium fluoride have been used as agents inhibiting the replication of oral bacteria and the formation of dental plaque. There are various kinds of bacteria with different sensitivity against these agents. In this study, chlorhexidine dihydrochloride and sodium fluoride were studied about their effects on the replication of Streptococcus mutars, Streptococcus sobrinus, Streptococcus oralis and Streptococcus salivarius at their concentrations inhibiting the formation of artificial plaque by Streptococcus mutars. When Streptococcus mutans was cultured for 8 hours in the media added with $1.0{\mu}M$ chlorhexidine dihydrochloride, the weight of formed artificial plaque was decreased to $5.1{\pm}1.5mg$ compared with $106.1{\pm}18.1mg$ of the control(p<0.05). At the same time, the optical density of cultured media was decreased. The optical density of cultured media was slightly decreased in Streptococcus sobrinus, but was not decreased in Streptococcus oralis. The optical density of Streptococcus salivarius was decreased at 8 hours-incubation, was not decreased at 24 hours-incubation. When Streptococcus mutars was cultured for 8 hours in the media added with 3.0 mM sodium fluoride, the weight of formed artificial plaque was decreased to $26.7{\pm}8.3mg(p<0.05)$. At the same time, the optical density of cultured media was decreased. The optical density of cultured media was decreased in Streptococcus sobrinus and Streptococcus oralis, but was slightly decreased in Streptococcus salivarius. These results suggest that at the concentration of chlorhexidine dihydrochloride and sodium fluoridehe inhibiting the formation of artificial plaque by Streptococcus mutans, different species of genus Streptococcus show the different sensitivity against these agents.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.288-295
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• 2014

Objectives: This study was designed to evaluate the synergistic antibacterial effect of xylitol and ursolic acid (UA) against oral biofilms in vitro. Materials and Methods: S. mutans UA 159 (wild type), S. mutans KCOM 1207, KCOM 1128 and S. sobrinus ATCC 33478 were used. The susceptibility of S. mutans to UA and xylitol was evaluated using a broth microdilution method. Based on the results, combined susceptibility was evaluated using optimal inhibitory combinations (OIC), optimal bactericidal combinations (OBC), and fractional inhibitory concentrations (FIC). The anti-biofilm activity of xylitol and UA on Streptococcus spp. was evaluated by growing cells in 24-well polystyrene microtiter plates for the biofilm assay. Significant mean differences among experimental groups were determined by Fisher's Least Significant Difference (p < 0.05). Results: The synergistic interactions between xylitol and UA were observed against all tested strains, showing the FICs < 1. The combined treatment of xylitol and UA inhibited the biofilm formation significantly and also prevented pH decline to critical value of 5.5 effectively. The biofilm disassembly was substantially influenced by different age of biofilm when exposed to the combined treatment of xylitol and UA. Comparing to the single strain, relatively higher concentration of xylitol and UA was needed for inhibiting and disassembling biofilm formed by a mixed culture of S. mutans 159 and S. sobrinus 33478. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that xylitol and UA, synergistic inhibitors, can be a potential agent for enhancing the antimicrobial and anti-biofilm efficacy against S. mutans and S. sobrinus in the oral environment.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.9-18
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• 2018

Objectives: Pleurotus eryngii is used both for edible and medicinal purposes, and has a physiological activity. The purpose of this study is to investigate the antibacterial effect of Pleurotus eryngii against six oral pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus criceti, Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus ratti, Streptococcus sobrinus, and Actinomyces viscosus). Methods: The antibacterial activities of various extracts of Pleurotus eryngii were examined by disc diffusion assay and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). The disc diffusion assay was performed by putting a paper disc soaked in extracts on plates inoculated bacterial cultures. The MIC of these extracts was determined by using a broth microdilution assay at a concentration ranging between 0.03 mg/ml to 15.00 mg/ml. The growth inhibition effect of extracts was measured at 600 nm for 24 hrs. Results: The antibacterial activity was confirmed against all six tested bacteria at Pleurotus eryngii ethyl acetate extract by the disc diffusion method. Acetone extract showed the antibacterial activity only against 4 strains containing Streptococcus criceti, Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus ratti, and Actinomyces viscosus. In ethanol extract, no activity was observed against other strains except Staphylococcus aureus. MIC values of ethyl acetate extract were the same, 7.50 mg/ml in all tested bacteria. Conclusions: Pleurotus eryngii exhibited the antibacterial activity against oral pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus criceti, Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus ratti, Streptococcus sobrinus, and Actinomyces viscosus). Thus, Pleurotus eryngii may be considered as a natural antibacterial agent for treatment of dental diseases.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.90-97
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• 2000

There are various kinds of factors associated with the formation of dental plaque in oral cavity such as nutrient molecules and chemical agents. The factors influencing the formation of insoluble glucan by Streptococcus sobrinus and its replication were examined on orthodontic wires. The results were as follows: 1. Insoluble glucan was well produced in the media initially adjusted at pH 7.0 than pH 5.5 or pH 8.5 like bacterial replication. 2. The synthesis of insoluble glucan and bacterial replication were significantly increased in the media containing 2.5% yeast extract. The formation of insoluble glucan was inhibited by 10 folds in the media containing 20% of sucrose than 1.25%, but the replication of bacteria was increased by 20 folds. 3. Insoluble glucan was significantly formed at a concentration of 1.0mM of calcium chloride, 40mM of potassium chloride, 0.1mM of magnesium chloride, while the replication of bacteria was little influenced by them regardless their concentration. 4. The formation of insoluble glucan and bacterial replication were significant in the media containing 10mM of sodium bicarbonate, but both were completely inhibited at 100mM or above. The production of insoluble glucan and the bacterial replication were largely decreased at 10mM of Tris while insoluble glucan was formed in abundance at 100mM of Tris. 5. The synthesis of insoluble glucan and the bacterial replication were inhibited at 10mM or above of sodium phosphate and potassium phosphate.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.436-444
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• 2010

Methanol extracts of the aerial and rhizome parts obtained from ten species of ferns has been screened for antimicrobial activities against Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Propionibacterium acnes, Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus. Antimicrobial activities were carried out using broth microdilution method and paper disc diffusion assay and the extracts which showed clear zones more than 15mm in concentration of 2 mg/disc were tested for its antimicrobial activities at the $0.125{\sim}2\;mg{\cdot}mL^{-1}$ concentration of each extract for three days. The non-sterilized crude methanol extracts of Osmunda cinnamomea var. fokiensis rhizome showed the highest antimicrobial activities on B. subtilis(39%), E. coli (33%) and L. monocytogenes(58%) at the concentration of $2\;mg{\cdot}mL^{-1}$ after 72 hours. In P. acnes, frond extract of O. cinnamomea var. fokiensis showed most vigorous antimicrobial activities in the all extracts but it showed weak activity(clear zone diameters below 15 mm). All extracts has the antimicrobial activities on Streptococcus, but they exhibited weak activity. At the concentration of $2\;mg{\cdot}mL^{-1}$, only Osmunda japonica rhizome extracts showed 28 and 39% of antimicrobial activities on S. mutans and S. sobrinus after 72 hours and the other extracts showed below 10% of antimicrobial activities on S. mutans and S. sobrinus.