Efficacy of Nelumbo nucifera extracts against dental caries causing microbes

Aim: To assess the inhibitory effect of leaf extracts of lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) against dental caries causing organisms. Materials and method: The leaf extracts of lotus were assessed for its degree of inhibition of activities, growth and glucosyl transferase (GTA) on six bacterial strains i.e., Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus mitis, Streptococcus sobrinus, Lactobacillius acidophilius, Actinomyces spp., and Nocardia spp, the main causal bacteria for dental caries. Results: N. Nucifera extracts possessed antimicrobial activity on all test bacterial strains. For example, 4mg/ml extract of lotus showed growth inhibition of S. mutans. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values against six species were varied from 2 mg/ml to 16 mg/ml against antimicrobial activity. The relative growth ratio (RGR) against of N. nucifera extracts was determined as 50% in concentration of 4.0mg/ml. Conclusion: The extract of N. nucifera was effective in reducing on the GTA activity of six strains of dental caries in vitro. Key Words: Lotus; Streptococcus mutans; Glucosyltransferase