Abstract

ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF ARTOCARPUS ALTILIS, (BREADFRUIT), AVERRHOA BILIMBI (SOURIE) AND CORDIA CURASSAVICA (BLACKSTAGE) STEM EXTRACT AGAINST STREPTOCOCCOUS MUTANS, IN PURSUIT OF NATURAL ANTICARIES AGENTS

*Jagessar R. C., and Monize M.

ABSTRACT

The antibacterial activity of three plant extracts: Artocarpus altilis fruit and leaves (Breadfruit), Averrhoa bilimbi (Sourie) fruit and leaves and Cordia Curassavica (Blackstage) stem and leaf extracts were evaluated against Streptococcous mutans with the aim of discovering new natural anticaries agents. The disc diffusion assay was used in the antimicrobial evaluation process. The extracts were evaluated at three different concentration of 100%, 90% and at 80%. At the 100% of extract concentration, the highest AZOI of 124.41 mm2 was induced by the sourie leaf extract. At the same concentration, the lowest AZOI of 52.4 mm2 was induced by the breadfruit extract. At the 90% extract concentration, the highest AZOI of 157.69 mm2 was induced by the sourie leaf extract. The lowest AZOI of 66.02 mm2 was induced by the breadfruit leaf extract. At the lowest 80% concentration of the extract, the highest AZOI of 131.09 mm2 was induced by the black stage stem extract. There seems to be a variation in the antimicrobial potency of each fruit and leaf extract at the different concentrations. Streptococcus mutans showed antimicrobial susceptibility to all plant extracts investigated and this varied with the concentration of the plant extracts. The results were statistically analysed. The plant extracts also studied are not only antibacterial in nature, but also well within the pH range of the typical dentrifices.

Keywords: Artocarpus altilis, Averrhoa bilimbi (Sourie), Cordia Curassavica (Blackstage), Streptococcous mutans, disc diffusion assay.