PRELIMINARY SCREENING OF ANTI-CARIOGENIC PROPERTIES OF SELECTED MEDICINAL PLANTS AGAINST STREPTOCOCCAL DENTAL CARIES

Streptococcus mutans is the primary major causative agent of dental caries, with the ability to produce acid and form dental plaque. Streptococcus mutans adheres to the tooth surface via extracellular enzymes and produces dental plaque via extracellular polysaccharides synthesized from sucrose via glucosyltransferase and fructosyltransferase. This study aimed to look at the alternative antimicrobial agent from plant extracts against Streptococcus mutans. Streptococcus mutans were used to assess the antimicrobial activities of crude plant extracts. Five different plant extracts were examined using the agar well diffusion method and were found to be antibacterial against Streptococcus mutans; Saponin, Proteins, Tannins, Flavonoids, Steroids, and reducing Sugars were found in the phytochemical screening of selected medicinal plants. Among the different extracts, Methanol had the highest antibacterial activity due to its increased solubility of highly active antimicrobial and phytochemical components. The extract has the potential to be a new source of antibacterial agents, and it scientifically justifies the use of plant extracts as an alternative antimicrobial agent against antibiotics, which shows various side effects.