• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.370-374
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• 2005

Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) is known as the causative bacterial playing the most important role informing plaque and it is being noticed as major causative bacteria of dental caries. Therefore, development of more effective, substantial and safe preventive agent against dental caries and periodontal disease is honestly required. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of Cyperus rotundus (Cyperaceae) methanol extracts on the growth, acid production, adhesion, and insoluble glucan synthesis of S. mutans. The methanol extract of C. rotundus showed concentration dependent inhibitory activity against the growth and acid production of S. mutans, and produced significant inhibition at the concentration of 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 mg/ml compared to the control group. The extracts markedly inhibited S. mutans adherence to HA treated with saliva, and cell adherence was repressed by more than 50% at the concentration of 0.5 mg/ml and complete inhibition was observed at the concentration of 4 mg/ml. On the activity of glucosyltransferase which synthesizes water insoluble glucan from sucrose, methanol extract of C. rotundus showed more than 10% inhibition over the concentration of 2 mg/ml. Thus, the application of C. rotundus can be considered a useful and a practical method for the prevention of dental caries.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.119-126
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• 2021

Background: Dental caries is mainly composed of various cellular components and is deposited around the tooth surface and gums, causing a number of periodontal diseases. Streptococcus mutans is commonly found in the human oral cavity and is a significant contributor to tooth decay. The use of antibacterial ingredients in oral hygiene products has demonstrated usefulness in the management of dental caries. This study investigated the anticaries effect of the ethanol extract of Terminalia chebula (EETC) against S. mutans and their cytotoxicity to gingival epithelial cells. Methods: The EETC was prepared from T. chebula fruit using ethanol extraction. Disk diffusion, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), and colony forming unit (CFU) were analyzed to investigate the antimicrobial activity of the EETC. Glucan formation was measured using the filtrate of the bacterial culture medium and sucrose. Gene expression was analyzed using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Cytotoxicity was analyzed via the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay. Results: The antibacterial activity of the EETC was explored using disc diffusion and CFU measurements. The MIC and MBC of the EETC were 10 and 20 ㎍/ml, respectively. EETC treatment decreased insoluble glucan formation by S. mutans enzymes and also resulted in reduced glycosyltransferase B (gtf B), gtf C, gtf D, and fructosyltransferase (ftf), expressions on RT-PCR. In addition, at effective antibacterial concentrations, EETC treatment was not cytotoxic to gingival epithelial cells. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that the EETC is an effective anticaries ingredient with low cytotoxicity to gingival epithelial cells. The EETC may be useful in antibacterial oral hygiene products for the management of dental caries.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.247-256
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• 2023

Objectives: Enterococcus faecalis is a gram positive diplococci, highly versatile and a normal commensal of the gut microbiome. Resistance to vancomycin is a serious issue in various health-care setting exhibited by vancomycin resistant Enterococci (VRE) due to the alteration in the peptidoglycan synthesis pathway. This study is thus aimed to detect the VRE from the patients with root caries from the clinical isolates of E. faecalis and to evaluate the in-silico interactions between vanA and the Aegles marmelos bio-compounds. Methods: E. faecalis was phenotypically characterized from 20 root caries samples and the frequency of vanA and vanB genes was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Further crude methanolic extracts from the dried leaves of A. marmelos was assessed for its antimicrobial activity. This is followed by the selection of five A. marmelos bio-compounds for the computational approach towards the drug ligand interactions. Results: 12 strains (60%) of E. faecalis was identified from the root caries samples and vanA was detected from two strains (16%). Both the stains showed the presence of vanA and none of the strains possessed vanB. Crude extract of A. marmelos showed promising antibacterial activity against the VRE strains. In-silico analysis of the A. marmelos biocompounds revealed Imperatonin as the best compound with high docking energy (-8.11) and hydrogen bonds with < 140 TPSA (Topological polar surface area) and zero violations. Conclusion: The present study records the VRE strains among the root caries with imperatorin from A. marmelos as a promising drug candidate. However the study requires further experimentation and validation.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.117-122
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• 2014

Objectives : The purpose of the study is to investigate the activities of Nelumbo nucifera leaf extracts on Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus mitis, Streptococcus sobrinus, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, and Treponema denticola. Methods : The inhibitory effect of lotus leaf extracts on the growth of oral bacteria was assessed in experiments with extracts from freshly harvested and pulverized lotus leaves and bacterial cultures of dental caries. Results : The results showed that N. nucifera extracts possess antimicrobial activity on all bacterial strains. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values varied from 4 mg/ml to 10 mg/ml against antimicrobial activity. The relative growth ratio (RGR) against of N. nucifera extracts were determined as 50% in concentration of 4.0 mg/ml. The extract of N. nucifera was effective in reducing on the glucosyltransferase (GTase) activity of six strains in vitro. Conclusions : Methanol extracts of lotus leaves showed antimicrobial effects on three bacterial species causing dental caries and three bacterial species causing periodontitis, as well as inhibitory effects on GTase activity.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.135-141
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• 2015

Biofilms of oral microbes can cause various diseases in the oral cavity, such as dental caries, periodontitis and mucosal disease. Electrolyzed water generated by an electric current passed via water using a metal electrode has an antimicrobial effect on pathogenic bacteria which cause food poisoning. This study investigated the antimicrobial activity of electrolyzed waters using various metal electrodes on the floatage and biofilms of oral microbes. The electrolyzed water was generated by passing electric current using copper, silver and platinum electrodes. The electrolyzed water has a neutral pH. Streptococcus mutans, Porphyromonas gingivalis and Tannerella forsythia were cultured, and were used to form a biofilm using specific media. The floatage and biofilm of the microbes were then treated with the electrolyzed water. The electrolyzed water using platinum electrode (EWP) exhibited strong antimicrobial activity against the floatage and biofilm of the oral microbes. However, the electrolyzed water using copper and silver electrodes had no effect. The EWP disrupted the biofilm of oral microbes, except the S. mutans biofilm. Comparing the different electrolyzed waters that we created the platinum electrode generated water may be an ideal candidate for prevention of dental caries and periodontitis.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.478-481
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• 2006

This study investigated the antimicrobial activity of soy protein isolate (SPI) film containing green tea extract (GTE, 1-4%, w/w) on dental caries-inducing bacterium (Streptococcus mutans), food pathogenic (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli 0157, Salmonella typhimurium), and spoilage (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) bacteria. The physical and mechanical properties of the SPI film containing GTE were also studied. The SPI film containing GTE (4%, w/w) exhibited good antimicrobial activity against S. mutans and S. aureus. The antimicrobial activity of the SPI film containing GTE increased against S. mutans as the concentration of GTE increased up to 4%(w/w). SPI films containing GTE showed lower tensile strength and elongation, and higher total soluble matter than those of control SPI film. Therefore, GTE can be used as one of antimicrobial agents for anti-dental caries and food packaging films.

• The Journal of Korea Assosiation for Disability and Oral Health
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.15-20
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• 2011

A person with neurological disorder is defined as a person with limitation of ambulation or basic life activity due to the cerebral palsy or traumatic brain damage, stroke. Recently, the DMFT of the children with neurological disorders is similar or lower than the DMFT of the children with no disability. But, this article is about the severe-early childhood caries in children with grade 1 neurological disorder. It is supposed that the primary motor impairment and secondary physical weakness, frequent hospitalization, sugar- rich food and drugs, lack of oral care, delayed dental visit made high caries susceptibility. In case of treatment of the children with severe neurological disorders, dentists should make a thorough caries preventive plan based on individualized caries risk assessment. Also parents and medical doctors should recognize the importance of oral care and do the early dental visit and home care.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.37-42
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• 2018

It is noted that Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) triggers dental caries establishment by two major factors: the synthesis of organic acids, which demineralize dental enamel, and the synthesis of glucans, which mediate the attachment of bacteria to the tooth surface. Therefore, it is noted that the development of a more effective, substantial and safe preventive agent that works against dental caries and periodontal disease is required at this time. For this reason, the present study was designed to investigate the effect of croton seed ethanol extracts on the growth, acid production, adhesion, and insoluble glucan synthesis of S. mutans. In this case, the ethanol extract of croton seed showed concentration dependent inhibitory activity against the growth, acid production and adhesion of S. mutans. Especially, it is important to note that it has produced significant inhibition at the concentration of 0.1 and 0.2 mg/ml as compared to the control group. Moreover, these results suggest that the application of croton seed extract may be considered to be a useful method for the prevention of dental caries.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.434-438
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• 1990

The methanolic extract of the root-bark of Morus alba L.(Mulberry tree) has the potent antibacterial activity against Streptococcus mutans. Its active component was identified to be sanggenon C. The active component had stronger anti-bacterial activity than berberine, having minimum inhibitory concentration(MIC) of $25\;{\mu}g/ml$. Moreover, the inhibitory effect of this component on the cellular adherence of Streptococcus mutans to glass surfaces also was more remarkable than that of berberine in the presence of glucosyltransferase(GTase) and sucrose in vitro. These results indicate that sanggenon C may play an important role in inhibiting plaque formation and caries incidence.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.1625-1628
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• 2006

The (-)-pimara-9 (11), 15-dien-19-oic acid, acanthoic acid was extracted from the roots of Acanthopanax koreanum using bioassay-guided isolation of a MeOH extract. Acanthoic acid was assayed against Streptococcus mutans and Staphylococcus epidermidis causing dental caries and opportunistic pathogen. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of acanthoic acid against Streptococcus mutans and Staphylococcus epidermidis was 2 and 4 ${\mu}g/mL$, respectively, which was much lower than those of other natural antimicrobial agents such as 8 ${\mu}g/mL$ of tanshinone IIA. Acanthoic acid also significantly inhibited the growth of other cariogenic bacteria such as Streptococcus sobrinus and Streptococcus sanguis, and Streptococcus grodenii in the MIC range of 4${\sim}$32 ${\mu}g/mL$. Our findings suggest that acanthoic acid could be employed as a potential antibacterial agent for preventing dental caries and skin infections.