Abstract
The galls of Quercus infectoria are commonly used in Malay traditional medicine to treat wound infections after childbirth. In India, they are employed traditionally as dental applications such as that in treatment of toothache and gingivitis. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antibacterial activity of galls of Quercus infectoria Olivier against oral bacteria which are known to cause dental caries and periodontitis. Methanol and acetone extracts were screened against two Gram-positive bacteria (Streptococcus mutans ATCC 25175 and Streptococcus salivarius ATCC 13419) and two Gram-negative bacteria (Porphyromonas gingivalis ATCC 33277 and Fusobacterium nucleatum ATCC 25586). The screening test of antibacterial activity was performed using agar-well diffusion method. Subsequently, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined by using twofold serial microdilution method at a concentration ranging between 0.01 mg/mL and 5 mg/mL. Minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) was obtained by subculturing microtiter wells which showed no changes in colour of the indicator after incubation. Both extracts showed inhibition zones which did not differ significantly (P < 0.05) against each tested bacteria. Among all tested bacteria, S. salivarius was the most susceptible. The MIC ranges for methanol and acetone extracts were the same, between 0.16 and 0.63 mg/mL. The MBC value, for methanol and acetone extracts, was in the ranges 0.31–1.25 mg/mL and 0.31–2.50 mg/mL, respectively. Both extracts of Q. infectoria galls exhibited similar antibacterial activity against oral pathogens. Thus, the galls may be considered as effective phytotherapeutic agents for the prevention of oral pathogens.
Highlights
Dental caries and periodontal disease are prevalent worldwide
The antibacterial activity of methanol and acetone extracts from galls of Q. infectoria against each oral bacteria species were tabulated (Table 1)
The size of inhibitory zones showed by methanol and acetone extracts did not differ significantly against each of the bacteria tested: 22.67 ± 0.33 and 21.33 ± 0.33, respectively, against S. mutans, 25.33 ± 0.33 and 24.33 ± 0.33, respectively, against S. salivarius, 18.33 ± 0.33 for both extracts against P. gingivalis, 18.67 ± 0.33 and 19.33±0.33, respectively, against F. nucleatum
Summary
Dental caries and periodontal disease are prevalent worldwide. Dental caries affects 60–90% of school-aged children as well as the vast majority of adults [1]. Bacteria existing in the dental plaque or biofilm play an important role in the development of both dental caries and periodontal disease [2]. The approach to prevent such oral diseases is targeted at the control of dental plaque formation [3]. Oral bacteria have been reported to show increased resistance towards common antibiotics such as penicillin, cephalosporin, erythromycin, tetracycline, and metronidazole which have been used therapeutically for the treatment of oral infection [5]. The increase in resistance and adverse effects have lead researchers to explore novel anti-infective herbal compounds which could be used for effective treatment of oral diseases
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