Use of herbal extract from

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Pharmacology
• Natural Product Chemistry

Background:

• Antibiotic resistance necessitates novel antimicrobial strategies.
• Medicinal plant extracts offer a promising alternative for treating bacterial infections.
• Streptococcus mutans is a primary pathogen in dental caries.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the antimicrobial potential of Shih plant extract against Streptococcus mutans.
• To explore Shih extract's efficacy in preventing and treating dental caries.
• To investigate the mechanisms underlying Shih extract's antibacterial activity.

Main Methods:

• Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimal Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) determination using Iodonitrotetrazolium chloride (INT) colorimetric assay.
• Time-kill dynamic assay via broth microdilution.
• Assessment of glucose utilization, pH changes, nucleic acid synthesis inhibition, and glucan synthesis inhibition.

Main Results:

• Shih extract exhibited an MIC of 2.5 mg/ml and MBC of 4 mg/ml against S. mutans.
• Bacterial population reduction was observed within 60 minutes at MBC.
• The extract inhibited nucleic acid formation and reduced glucan synthesis by 45%.

Conclusions:

• Shih extract demonstrates significant antibacterial activity against S. mutans.
• It holds potential as an antiplaque and anticariogenic agent for oral hygiene applications.
• Further in-vitro and in-vivo cytotoxicity assessments are required for safety evaluation.