title: Anti-Streptococcus mutans efficacy of Thai herbal formula used as a remedy for dental caries.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Traditional knowledge of herbal remedies plays an important role in the search for more effective alternative treatment of a variety of disorders. The ethnobotanical surveys in southern Thailand have revealed that 35 Thai herbal formulas have been used by Thai traditional healers against dental caries. However, the scientific evaluation to confirm their rational uses is scarce.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To test in vitro anti-Streptococcus mutans activity of Thai herbal formulas used against dental caries (THF-DC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Ethanol extracts of Thai herbal formulas were evaluated for antibacterial activity against S. mutans. Agar disc diffusion was employed as a preliminary screening assay, followed by broth microdilution assay to assess minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Furthermore, medicinal plants contained in the most active THF-DC were investigated for their phytochemicals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eleven THF-DC extracts exhibited clear inhibition zones of 7.0-22.5 mm against S. mutans. Subsequent determination of their MIC revealed that the formula containing Albizia myriophylla Benth. (Leguminosae), Alpinia galanga (L.) Willd. (Zingiberaceae), Avicennia marina (Forssk.) Vierh. (Acanthaceae), and Ocimum sanctum L. (Lamiaceae) was the most active, with MIC at 250 µg/mL. Among these medicinal plants, A. myriophylla gave the strongest activity with MIC at 3.9 µg/mL, followed by A. marina with MIC at 62.5 µg/mL. Various classes of bioactive phytochemicals including tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids, and terpenoids were found in these extracts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Anti-S. mutans activity of THF-DC extracts was established. Further investigations may be required for the isolation and chemical characterization of the active ingredients in A. myriophylla.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Traditional Thai Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, Thailand. nantiya.j@psu.ac.th
authors.forename: Nantiya
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Joycharat
authors.forename: Surasak
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Limsuwan
authors.forename: Sanan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Subhadhirasakul
authors.forename: Supayang Piyawan
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Voravuthikunchai
authors.forename: Saranyabhong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pratumwan
authors.forename: Idris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Madahin
authors.forename: Wanlapa
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Nuankaew
authors.forename: Atchariya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Promsawat
mesh_terms: D031289:Albizzia / Q000737:chemistry*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020834:Ethnopharmacology; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D013785:Thailand; D014934:Wood / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts