title: Antimicrobial activity of Uncaria tomentosa against oral human pathogens.
abstract: Uncaria tomentosa is considered a medicinal plant used over centuries by the peruvian population as an alternative treatment for several diseases. Many microorganisms usually inhabit the human oral cavity and under certain conditions can become etiologic agents of diseases. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of different concentrations of Uncaria tomentosa on different strains of microorganisms isolated from the human oral cavity. Micropulverized Uncaria tomentosa was tested in vitro to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) on selected microbial strains. The tested strains were oral clinical isolates of Streptococcus mutans, Staphylococcus spp., Candida albicans, Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The tested concentrations of Uncaria tomentosa ranged from 0.25-5% in Müeller-Hinton agar. Three percent Uncaria tomentosa inhibited 8% of Enterobacteriaceae isolates, 52% of S. mutans and 96% of Staphylococcus spp. The tested concentrations did not present inhibitory effect on P. aeruginosa and C. albicans. It could be concluded that micropulverized Uncaria tomentosa presented antimicrobial activity on Enterobacteriaceae, S. mutans and Staphylococcus spp. isolates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology Sciences, School of Dentistry of Piracicaba, State University of Campinas.
authors.forename: Renzo Alberto
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Ccahuana-Vasquez
authors.forename: Silvana Soléo Ferreira dos
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Cristiane Yumi
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Koga-Ito
authors.forename: Antonio Olavo Cardoso
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Jorge
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D020948:Cat's Claw / Q000737:chemistry*; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000188:drug therapy; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D004755:Enterobacteriaceae / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009055:Mouth / Q000382:microbiology*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000187:drug effects; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000187:drug effects; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts