Anticariogenic properties of Solanum ferox L. ethanol extract

Abstract

Solanum ferox L. is a plant species which belongs to the Solanaceae family and the genus Solanum. The Solanum genus was found to exhibit anticariogenic activity and was traditionally used to treat oral diseases. However there are no scientific studies done specifically for Solanum ferox L. Hence the aim of the study is to determine the anticariogenic properties of flesh and leaf of ethanolic extract of Solanum ferox L. Alkaloids, flavonoids and tannins were detected in the leaf ethanolic extract via preliminary phytochemical screening.  The presence of these phytochemicals may contribute to the anticariogenic activity. Treatment with different concentrations of flesh and leaf of ethanolic extract were used against Streptococcus pyogenes and Staphylococcus aureus via the method of agar well diffusion to indicate zones of inhibition. The antibiofilm activity of the flesh and leaf ethanolic extracts was tested. The flesh and leaf ethanolic extracts possess significant (p<0.05) dose-dependent on antimicrobial activity and positive antibiofilm activity against respective pathogens. Flesh ethanolic extract has stronger anticariogenic activity compared to leaf ethanolic extract against Staphylococcus aureus. Streptococcus pyogenes exhibited higher susceptibility as compared to Staphylococcus aureus.  In conclusion, it has been shown that the ethanolic extract of Solanum ferox L. exhibit anticariogenic properties against Streptococus pyogenes and Staphylococcus aureus.