Efficacy of some antibacterial agents against <i>Streptococcus mutans</i> associated with tooth decay

Abstract

Isolation of Streptococcus mutans was achieved from 79.3% of total positive culture of tooth decay cases. Testing of various extracts of Punica grantum (pomegranate), red and white fruit juice, fruit crust and three tooth pastes (Signal-2, Close-Up and Sinan) with comparison to standard antibiotics were carried out in this study. The highest diameter of inhibition zone was recorded for 1000 mcg/ml of fruit crust (26 mm). The MICs for pomegranate extracts are between 80 - 400 mg/ml, and 200 - 500 mg/ml for tooth pastes. The effects of pomegranate extracts are between the limits of standard antibiotics.

Key words: Streptococcus mutans, Punica grantum, tooth decay, pomegranate extracts, fruit crust.