Abstract
This study aimed to evaluatein vitro effects ofRheum undulatum L. root on the development of dental caries, especially its effects on viability, dental plaque formation, and glycolytic acid production ofStreptococcus mutans andStreptococcus sobrinus. Methanol extract ofRheum undulatum L. root and its fractions were prepared and tested. Among the test extract and fractions, dichloromethane fraction (DF) showed the most active antibacterial activity (inhibition zone: 13–17 mm) againstS. mutants andS. sobrinus in a disc diffusion method. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of DF against these bacteria ranged from 0.25 to 0.5 mg/mL. Furthermore, DF significantly inhibited the caries-inducing factors of these bacteria. At sub-MIC levels, DF inhibitedin vitro dental plaque formation byS. mutans andS. sobrinus (IC50=0.079 and 0.142 mg/mL, respectively), which was caused, in part, by the inhibitory effect on the activity of glucosyltransferases. A significant reduction of glycolytic acid production was found at the concentration as low as 0.032 mg/mL forS. mutans and 0.063 mg/mL forS. sobrinus. The possible bioactive compounds that are inducingin vitro anti-cariogenic activity of DF are unknown. Based on the preliminary phytochemical analysis, the activity of DF may be related to the presence of anthraquinones, cardiac glycosides, coumarines, sterols/terpenes, and phenolics. These results indicate that DF is probably useful for the control of dental plaque formation and subsequent dental caries development.
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Song, JH., Yang, TC., Chang, KW. et al. In vitro anti-cariogenic activity of dichloromethane fraction fromRheum undulatum L. root. Arch Pharm Res 29, 490–496 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02969422
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02969422