title: Antimicrobial activity of selected essential oils against cariogenic bacteria.
abstract: The antibacterial activity of nine selected essential oils (EOs) against a panel of oral pathogens was investigated in terms of their minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) by using the broth microdilution method. Most of the EOs displayed weak activity or were inactive against the selected oral pathogens, with MIC values ranging from 500 to 4000 μg/mL. However, the EO obtained from the leaves of Bidens sulphurea (Asteraceae) was found to display moderate activity against Streptococcus mutans (MIC = 250 μg/mL) and significant activity against Streptococcus mitis (MIC = 31.25 μg/mL). Germacrene D (38.3%), trans-caryophyllene (18.0%), β-elemene (13.9%) and bicyclogermacrene (13.1%) were identified as the main chemical components of this oil. 2,6-Di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol, previously described as the major constituent in the EO from the flowers of B. sulphurea, was not detected in this study.
authors.affiliation: a Núcleo de Pesquisas em Ciências Exatas e Tecnológicas, Universidade de Franca , Franca , SP , Brazil.
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Aguiar
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.forename: E B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.forename: M H G
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: K A L
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Wakabayashi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Groppo
authors.forename: C H G
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: W R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Cunha
authors.forename: A E M
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Crotti
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019659:Asteraceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000081223:Polycyclic Sesquiterpenes; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D045788:Sesquiterpenes, Germacrane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D000081223:Polycyclic Sesquiterpenes; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; D045788:Sesquiterpenes, Germacrane; C445979:beta-elemene; C024714:caryophyllene; C027259:germacrene D