Isolation and molecular Identification of Streptococcus mutans and evaluation of the antimicrobial effect of some herbal plant extracts on them

Overuse of antibiotics culminated in increasing of frequency of occurrence of antibiotic resistant bacteria. Therefore, new drugs with minimum complication are needed. Nowadays, herbal drugs as new remedy have been considered to reduce frequency of occurrence of antibiotic resistant bacteria. The purpose of this study was isolation and molecular identification of Streptococcus mutans as an important agent of dental decay and the evaluation of antimicrobial effect of herbal medicine on them.

To perform the study 50 oral samples were collected from ordinary people and cultivated on the nutrient agar plates. In addition, 27 herbal medicine plants were purchased and water and hydro alcoholic extracts of them were prepared. Then, the antimicrobial effects of water and hydro alcoholic extracts of herbal medicine plants were evaluated on the isolates. In addition, MIC, MBC and Arbitrary units of the effective herbal medicine plants were determined.

The results indicated that Streptococcus was predominant oral microflora and Streptococcus mutans were isolated in high frequency. Out of all herbal plants, Mazoo plant, oak plant, Myrtus commuis and Tribulus terrestris exhibited high antimicrobial property on Streptococcus mutans isolates. However, hydroalcolic Mazoo plant extract showed relatively more antimicrobial effect. Furthermore, MIC, MBC and Arbitrary unit of the Mazoo plant extract was relatively less. Hence, our finding showed antimicrobial effect of Mazoo plant extracts on oral microbiota viz., Streptococcus mutans.

Therefore, consumption of aliquot of hydroalcolic Mazoo plant extract can be eliminated oral infections as well as dental decay. However, it needs more investigation.