title: Use of an Extract of Indian Sacred Plant Ocimum sanctum as an Anticariogenic Agent: An in vitro Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the efficacy of three different concentrations of Ocimum sanctum extract against various microorganisms, Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus mitis, Streptococcus sanguis, Lactobacillus acidophilus.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ethanolic extract of Ocimum sanctum was prepared by the hot extraction method. The extract was diluted with an inert solvent, dimethyl sulfoxide to obtain 3 different concentrations (2.5, 5 and 10%) of the extract. 0.2% chlorhexidine was used as a positive control and dimethyl sul-foxide was used as a negative control. The extract, along with the controls, was then subjected to microbiological investigation to determine which concentration among the 3 different concentrations of extract gave a wider inhibition zone against S. mutans, S. mitis, S. sanguis, L. acidophilus. The zones of inhibition were measured in millimeters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ocimum sanctum leaf extract demonstrated maximum antimicrobial activity against microorganisms responsible for dental caries at the 10% concentration level although 5 and 2.5% were also effective. Maximum activity was seen against S. mutans and S. sanguis with 10% extract.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ocimum sanctum leaf extract was effective against all the microorganisms. How to cite this article: Pai RK, Bhat SS, Salman A, Chandra J. Use of an Extract of Indian Sacred Plant Ocimum Sanctum as an Anticariogenic Agent: An in vitro Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2015;8(2):99-101.
authors.affiliation: Reader, Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry Yenepoya Dental College, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Reshma
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kochikar Pai
authors.affiliation: Vice Principal, Professor and Head, Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry Yenepoya Dental College, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Sham S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Bhat
authors.affiliation: Senior Lecturer, Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry Yenepoya Dental College, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Afreen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salman
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Microbiology, Yenepoya Medical College Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Jagadish
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chandra
keywords: Antimicrobial activity; Chlorhexidine; Dental caries; Microorganisms; Ocimum sanctum.