title: Comparative Evaluation of Antibacterial Efficacy of Six Indian Plant Extracts against Streptococcus Mutans.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To assess the antimicrobial efficacy of six plant extracts of Indian origin often used as traditional medicine against standard strains of Streptococcus mutans.
  
  
  METHODS
  The antimicrobial activity of six plant extracts was determined by the agar well diffusion method. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for the crude (raw), Organic solvent based, aqueous extracts was determined by the agar well diffusion method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of all the six extracts evaluated, organic solvent based and aqueous extracts of all the extracts were found to have variable antimicrobial activities against the oral pathogen. The crude extract of Garlic was the most effective against Streptococcus mutans with the highest zone of inhibition (24.62 mm) followed by the aqueous extract of Amla (19.47mm) and organic solvent based extract of Ginger (18.76 mm).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite of the fact that the extracts were not pure compounds and antimicrobial results were obtained. This recommends the potency of these extracts. The figment of the derivation of antimicrobial compounds from plants seems lucrative as it will lead to the development of a phytomedicine to act against microbes.
authors: Sr. Lecturer, Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, ITS Dental College , Ghaziabad, India .
authors: Isha
authors: I
authors: Jain
authors: Reader, Department of Oral Pathology, ITS Dental College , Ghaziabad, India .
authors: Pankaj
authors: P
authors: Jain
authors: Professor and Head, Department of Microbiology, Santosh Medical College , Ghaziabad, India .
authors: Dakshina
authors: D
authors: Bisht
authors: Post Graduate Student, Department of Microbiology, Santosh Medical College , Ghaziabad, India .
authors: Alosha
authors: A
authors: Sharma
authors: Professor and Head, Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Santosh Dental College , Ghaziabad, India .
authors: Binita
authors: B
authors: Srivastava
authors: Reader, Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Santosh Dental College , Ghaziabad, India .
authors: Nidhi
authors: N
authors: Gupta
keywords: Antibacterial activity; Minimum inhibitory concentration; Plant extracts; Streptococcus mutans