Antimicrobial activity of Streblus asper leaf extract

• Published in: Phytotherapy research Vol. 15; no. 2; pp. 119 - 121
• Main Authors: Wongkham, Sopit, Laupattarakasaem, Pisamai, Pienthaweechai, Keskaew, Areejitranusorn, Premjai, Wongkham, Chaisiri, Techanitiswad, Tipawan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 01.03.2001; Wiley
• Subjects: Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use; antimicrobial; bactericidal; Biological and medical sciences; caries; Cariostatic Agents - pharmacology; Cariostatic Agents - therapeutic use; Dental Caries - prevention & control; General pharmacology; Humans; Medical sciences; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plant Extracts - therapeutic use; Plant Leaves; Plants, Medicinal; Rosales; Streblus asper; Streptococcus mutans; Streptococcus mutans - drug effects; Pharmacognosy; Plant leaf; Moraceae; In vitro; Biological activity; Medicinal plant; Streptococcus mutans; Streptococcaceae; Streptococcus; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Plant origin; Bacteria; Micrococcales; Spermatophyta; Antibacterial agent
• ISSN: 0951-418X; 1099-1573
• DOI: 10.1002/ptr.705

Bactericidal activity was found in the 50% ethanol (v/v) extract of Streblus asper leaves. The extract possessed a selective bactericidal activity towards Streptococcus, especially to Streptococcus mutans which has been shown to be strongly associated with dental caries. The extract had no effect on cultures of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus coagulase positive, Staphylococcus coagulase negative, Serratia marcescens, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Burkholderia pseudomeallei and Candida albicans. The minimum growth inhibitory concentration and the minimum bactericidal concentration of S. asper extract against 108 CFU/mL of S. mutans was 2 mg/mL. The active compound is partially polar, partially heat labile, precipitated by 80% ammonium sulphate, and possesses a molecular weight larger than 10 000 Da. The potential for using S. asper extract as a natural product for controlling dental caries is discussed. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.