title: Anti-Streptococcal activity of Brazilian Amazon Rain Forest plant extracts presents potential for preventive strategies against dental caries.
abstract: Caries is a global public health problem, whose control requires the introduction of low-cost treatments, such as strong prevention strategies, minimally invasive techniques and chemical prevention agents. Nature plays an important role as a source of new antibacterial substances that can be used in the prevention of caries, and Brazil is the richest country in terms of biodiversity.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In this study, the disk diffusion method (DDM) was used to screen over 2,000 Brazilian Amazon plant extracts against Streptococcus mutans.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventeen active plant extracts were identified and fractionated. Extracts and their fractions, obtained by liquid-liquid partition, were tested in the DDM assay and in the microdilution broth assay (MBA) to determine their minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimal bactericidal concentrations (MBCs). The extracts were also subjected to antioxidant analysis by thin layer chromatography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  EB271, obtained from Casearia spruceana, showed significant activity against the bacterium in the DDM assay (20.67±0.52 mm), as did EB1129, obtained from Psychotria sp. (Rubiaceae) (15.04±2.29 mm). EB1493, obtained from Ipomoea alba, was the only extract to show strong activity against Streptococcus mutans (0.08 mg/mL<MIC<0.16 mg/mL; MBC=0.16 mg/mL) in the MBA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The active extracts, discovered in the Amazon rain forest, show potential as sources of new antibacterial agents for use as chemical coadjuvants in prevention strategies to treat caries.
authors.affiliation: Office for Post-Graduation and Research, Paulista University, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Juliana Paola Correa da
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Office for Post-Graduation and Research, Paulista University, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Adriana Lígia de
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Castilho
authors.affiliation: Office for Post-Graduation and Research, Paulista University, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cíntia Helena Couri
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Saraceni
authors.affiliation: Center for Research in Biodiversity, Extraction Laboratory, Paulista University, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ingrit Elida Collantes
authors.initials: IE
authors.lastname: Díaz
authors.affiliation: Center for Research in Biodiversity, Extraction Laboratory, Paulista University, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mateus Luís Barradas
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Paciencia
authors.affiliation: Office for Post-Graduation and Research, Paulista University, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ivana Barbosa
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Suffredini
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001938:Brazil; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D012016:Reference Values; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D014197:Trees
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts