BACKGROUND: Despite plants being ancient sources of medicinal compounds, the development of new antibiotics has been overshadowed by the emergence of multidrug-resistant pathogens, threatening their clinical effectiveness.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the antimicrobial effects of Amaranthus viridis L. and Spinacia oleracea L. extracts against a clinical isolate of Streptococcus mutans to find an affordable, simple, and effective alternative for its prevention and management.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Plant extracts were prepared via hot continuous extraction using 100% methanol in Soxhlet equipment. The Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method was used to evaluate antibacterial activity against S. mutans using 20 Petri dishes. The mean zone of inhibition (ZOI) was measured using a HiAntibiotic Zone Scale™. Statistical analysis was performed using One-way ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc test. A value of P < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.
RESULTS: Among both the plant extracts, S. oleracea L. demonstrated a higher mean ZOI of 16.95 ± 0.21 mm at 24 hours, 16.75 ± 0.23 mm at 48 hours and 15.01 ± 0.27 mm at 72 hours, while A. viridis L. showed a lower antimicrobial activity with a mean ZOI of 11.85 ± 0.51 mm at 24 hours, 10.71 ± 0.67 mm at 48 hours and 7.13 ± 0.94 mm at 72 hours.
CONCLUSION: Both plant extracts demonstrated antimicrobial activity against S. mutans . While both were effective, S. oleracea L. consistently outperformed A. viridis L. across all time intervals. Further studies are required to confirm these findings and evaluate their effectiveness in different forms and concentrations.
* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.