• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.579-586
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• 2004

The objective of the present prospective trial was to compare the efficacy of chlorhexidine(Cervitec), Fluoride (Fluorprotector) and combination of chlorhexdine and fluoride varnishes in decreasing the level of salivary mutans streptococci. Forty healthy students of school of dentistry, Chonbuk national university were investigated to evaluate mutans streptococci(MS) counts and randomized into four groups to treat with the experimental varnishes; A) untreated group(n=10), B) chlorhexidine group(n=10), C) fluoride group(n=10), D) chlorhexidine and fluoride group(n=10). Dentocult $SM^{(R)}$ (Orion Diagnostica) strip method was used for measurement of the level of mutans streptococci in saliva. Stimulated saliva were collected at baseline for mutans streptococci counts evaluation (ms1), 12 weeks later the completion of each varnish treatment, mutans streptococci counts were re-evaluated. In varnish group with chlorhexidine, fluoride and combination of chlorhexidine and fluoride, the level of mutans streptococci was lower after 12 weeks than at baseline, but there were no significant differences in saliva(p>0.05), when compared with baseline. After 12 weeks, a remarkable reduction was still found in the subjects with high level of mutans streptococci at baseline, but not different in the low and moderate level of mutans streptococci(p>0.05).

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.77-87
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• 1999

This study was performed to evaluate the effect of Streptococcus oralis on the formation of artificial plaque and the replication of Streptococcus mutans. S. mutans was incubated alone and in the combination with S. oralis in the beaker with wires. The produced plaque weight and the viable cells of S. mutans were compared between those cultures. Various factors were studied about the effect on the formation of plaque and the replication of S. mutans. Followings are the results. 1. Lower amount of plaque was produced and fewer cells of S. mutans were replicated at the mixed culture of S. mmutans and S. oralis than S. mutans alone. 2. When 10 mM glucose was added, the plaque weight was increased in the culture of S. mutans alone. But in the mixed culture of S. mutans and S. oralis, the plaque weight was not increased when 10 mM of glucose was added. 3. When 10 mM fructose was added, the plaque weight was increased in the culture of S. mutans alone or combined S. mutans and S. oralis. 4. In the mixed culture of S. mutans and S. oralis with different concentration, the more S. oralis exist, the less plaque and the fewer viable cells of S. mutans were observed. 5. The plaque weight and the viable cells of S. mutans were more decreased in the mixed culture of S. mutans and S. oralis than S. mutans alone after 12 hours. 6. When Staphylococcus epidermidis consuming hydrogen peroxide was added to the mixed culture of S. mutans and S. oralis, the plaque weight and the viable cells of S. mutans were increased. These results indicate that S. oralis inhibited the formation of plaque and the replication of S. mutans, and this may result from the formation of hydrogen peroxide S. oralis.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.199-203
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• 2007

Dental caries is a major worldwide oral disease problem. Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) plays an important role in the information of dental plaque and it is being noticed as major causative bacteria of dental caries. Therefore, the development of more effective, substantial and safe preventive agents against dental caries is strongly required. In the present study, inhibitory effects of the ethanol extract of the husk of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) on the growth, acid production, adhesion and water-insoluble glucan synthesis of Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) were examined. The ethanol extract of pomegranate husk (250 - 4000 ${\mu}$g/ml) significantly lowered the growth of S. mutans in a dose dependent manner. The acid production of S. mutans were inhibited by the presence of ethanol extract of pomegranate husk (500 - 4000 ${\mu}$g/ml) significantly. The ethanol extract of pomegranate husk (5000 - 4000 ${\mu}$g/ml) also significantly lowered the adherence of S. mutans. In water-insoluble glucan synthesis assay, 1000 - 4000 ${\mu}$g/ml of the ethanol extract of pomegranate husk significantly inhibited the formation of water-insoluble glucan. These results suggest that pomegranate husk may inhibit the caries-inducing properties of S. mutans. Further studies are necessary to clarify the active constituents of pomegranate husk responsible for such biomolecular activities.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.384-389
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• 2012

As part of our screening of anticariogenic agents from medicinal plants, the ethanol extracts of 25 herbs widely used in the fork medicine were tested for the antimicrobial activity against a cariogenic bacterium Streptococcus mutans ATCC 25175. The ethanol extracts of Coptis chinensis, Sophora flavescens, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Mentha arvensis, and Saururus chinensis showed antimicrobial activities against S. mutans. The extracts of Coptis chinensis and Sophora flavescens among these medicinal plants showed significant antomicrobial activity against S. mutans. These results suggested that the extracts of Coptis chinensis and Sophora flavescens could be the potential source of antimicrobial agent against S. mutans ATCC 25175.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.56-63
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• 2022

This study aims to determine the antibiofilm effect of cell-free supernatant (CFS) of Lactobacillus brevis strains against Streptococcus mutans strains. To study the antibiofilm mechanism against S. mutans strains, antibacterial effects, cell surface properties (auto-aggregation and cell surface hydrophobicity), exopolysaccharide (EPS) production, and morphological changes were examined. The antibiofilm effect of L. brevis KCCM 202399 CFS as morphological changes were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), compared with the control treatment. Among the L. brevis strains, L. brevis KCCM 202399 showed the highest antibiofilm effect on S. mutans KCTC 5458. The antibacterial effect of L. brevis KCCM 202399 against S. mutans KCTC 5458 was investigated using the deferred method (16.00 mm). The minimum inhibitory concentration of L. brevis KCCM 202399 against S. mutans KCTC 5458 was 25.00%. Compared with the control treatment, L. brevis KCCM 202399 CFS inhibited the bacterial adhesion of S. mutans KCTC 5458 by decreasing auto-aggregation, cell surface hydrophobicity, and EPS production (45.91%, 40.51%, and 67.44%, respectively). L. brevis KCCM 202399 CFS inhibited and eradicated the S. mutans KCTC 5458 biofilm. Therefore, these results suggest that L. brevis KCCM 202399 CFS may be used to develop oral health in the probiotic industry.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.187-193
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• 2014

Dental caries are one of the most common oral diseases and Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) plays an important role in the initiation and progression of dental caries. Oral malodor is primarily the result of microbial metabolism such as Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) that produce volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs), causing oral malodor. Prevotella intermedia (P. intermedia) is known as typical periodontopathic bacteria, and periodontal disease is chronic inflammatory disease that leads to damage of gingival connective tissue and alveolar bone, eventually loss of teeth. In this study, we investigated antimicrobial effect of mouthwash containing cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), sodium fluoride (NaF), green tea water extract and pine needles water extract against cariogenic and periodontopathic bacteria sucn as S. mutans, P. gingivalis and P. intermedia. As a result, the reduction ratios of S. mutans and P. gingivalis were 4.00 Log and 4.68 Log reduction for 30 s, and P. intermedia were 2.40 Log reduction for 30 s and 2.70 Log reduction for 60 s. Dentocult SM Strip mutans (SM Strip) provides easy detection of visual data showing a significant inhibition on S. mutans. In conclusion, we expected that mouthwash containing CPC, NaF, green tea water extract and pine needles water extract could help preventing the dental disease like dental caries and oral malodor.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.549-557
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• 2000

Dental caries is a bacterial disease of the dental hard tisssus, characterized by a localized, progressive, molecular disintegration of tooth structure. The action of Leuconostoc lactis 51 about plaque formation and replication by Streptococcus mutans was studied as follows. 1. Lower amount of plaque was produced at the mixed culture of S. mutans and L. lactis 51 than S. mutans alone on the wires in the beaker. 2. Fewer cells of S. mutans were replicated at the mixed culture of S. mutans and L. lactis 51 than S. mutans alone. 3. In M17Y broth, viable cells of S. mutans and L. lactis 51 increased for 12 hours, and decreased for 24 hours. In M17YS broth, viable cells of S. mutans showed time-dependent decrease at mixed culture of S. mutans and L. lactis 51. 4. The culture supernatant of L. lactis 51 didn't inhibit the replication of S. mutans and the formation of artificial plaque. 5. Sucrose and frutose were extracted from the culture supernatant of L. lactis 51 in M17YS broth. These results suggest that L. lactis 51 isolated from the oral cavity inhibits the replication of S. mutans and the formation of artificial plaque.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.253-262
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• 2016

Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) is one of the most important bacteria in the formation of dental plaque and dental caries. S. mutans adheres to an acquired pellicle formed on the tooth surface, and aggregates with many oral bacteria. It initiates plaque formation by synthesizing glucan from sucrose, which is catalyzed by glucosyltransferases. Propolis is a resinous mixture produced by honeybees, by mixing saliva and beeswax with secretions gathered from wood sap and flower pollen. Bees prevent pathogenic invasions by coating the propolis to the outer and inner surface of the honeycomb. Propolis has traditionally been used for the treatment of allergic rhinitis, asthma and dermatitis. We investigated the inhibitory effects of propolis ethanol extract on biofilm formation and gene expression of S. mutans. The biofilm formation of S. mutans was determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and safranin staining. We observed that the extract of propolis had an inhibitory effect on the formation of S. mutans biofilms at concentrations higher than 0.2 mg/ml. Real-time PCR analysis showed that the gene expression of biofilm formation, such as gbpB, spaP, brpA, relA and vicR of S. mutans, was significantly decreased in a dose dependent manner. The ethanol extract of propolis showed concentration dependent growth inhibition of S. mutans, and significant inhibition of acid production at concentrations of 0.025, 0.05, 0.1 and 0.2 mg/ml, compared to the control group. These results suggest that the ethanol extract of propolis inhibits gene expression related to biofilm formation in S. mutans.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.1001-1013
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• 2020

The formation of biofilms on the enamel surface of teeth by Streptococcus mutans is an important step in dental plaque formation, demineralization, and early caries because the biofilm is where other bacteria involved in dental caries attach, grow, and proliferate. The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of phosvitin (PSV) on the biofilm formation, exopolysaccharides (EPS) production, adherence activity of S. mutans, and the expression of genes related to the compounds essential for biofilm formation (quorum-sensing inducers and components of biofilm matrix) by S. mutans. PSV significantly reduced the biofilm-forming activity of S. mutans and increased the degradation of preformed biofilms by S. mutans. PSV inhibited the adherence activity of S. mutans by 31.9%-33.6%, and the production of EPS by 62%-65% depending upon the strains and the amount of PSV added. The expressions of genes regulating the production of EPS and the quorum-sensing-inducers (gtfA, gtfD, ftf, relA, vicR, brpA, and comDE) in all S. mutans strains were down-regulated by PSV, but gtfB was down-regulated only in S. mutans KCTC 5316. Therefore, the anti-biofilm-forming activity of PSV was accomplished through the inhibition of biofilm formation, adherence activity, and the production of quorum-sensing inducers and EPS by S. mutans.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.103-111
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• 2023

Background: Some studies confirm the reduction of the number of Streptococcus mutans in saliva and dental plaque by Lactobacillus, however, these effects are not always confirmed in in vitro and clinical studies, and only the risk of dental caries has been reported. Our in vitro study aimed to reveal microbial and biochemical changes in the single cultures of S. mutans, Lactobacillus casei and Aggregatibactor actinomycetemcomitans and co-cultures of S. mutans and L. casei or A. actinomycetemcomitans according to sucrose concentration. We also aimed to confirm the anti-oral bacterial and anti-biofilm activities of L. casei and A. actinomycetemcomitans against S. mutans according to sucrose concentration. Methods: S. mutans (KCCM 40105), L. casei (KCCM 12452), and A. actinomycetemcomitans (KCTC 2581) diluted to 5×10⁶ CFU/ml were single cultured, and L. casei or A. actinomycetemcomitans applied at concentrations of 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% to S. mutans were co-cultured with selective medium containing 0%, 1% and 5% sucrose at 36.5℃ for 24 hours. Measurements of bacterial growth value and acid production, disk diffusion and biofilm formation assays were performed. Results: In the medium containing sucrose, the bacterial growth and biofilm formation by S. mutans, L. casei, and A. actinomycetemcomitans were increased. In contrast, 30% and 40% of L. casei in the medium containing 0% sucrose showed both anti-oral bacterial and anti-biofilm activities. This implies that L. casei can be used as probiotic therapy to reduce S. mutans in a 0% sucrose environment. Conclusion: The concentration of sucrose in the oral environment is important for the control of pathogenic bacteria that cause dental caries and periodontitis. To apply probiotic therapy using L. casei for S. mutans reduction, the concentration of sucrose must be considered.