Studies on Dental Caries Prevention by Traditional Medicines. X. : Antibacterial Action of Phenolic Components from Mace against Streptococcus mutans

The methanolic extract of the aril of Myristica fragrans HOUTT. (mace) had anti-plaque action against a cariogenic becterium, Streptococcus mutans. Through fractionation of the extract followed by microbial assay by using the tube dilution technique, dehydrodiisoeugenol (1) and 5'-methoxydehydrodiisoeugenol (2) were identified as the major antibacterial principles. Both compounds completely inhibited the bacterial growth at a concentration of 12.5 μg/ml. During this experiment, threo-2-(4-allyl-2, 6-dimethoxyphenoxy)-1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)propan-1-ol methyl ether (6) and guaiacin (8) were isolated for the first time from mace.