Summary
Streptococcus mutans is one of the main bacteria in the development of dental caries, a disease with high prevalence in the world population, and therefore a public health problem. There is current research to find prevention alternatives one of these is the use of medicinal plants for therapeutic purposes beneficial to health. To evaluate the antibacterial effect of Origanum vulgare at different concentrations on in vitro growth of Streptococcus mutans, previously isolated bacterial strains of Streptococcus mutans were used. Bacterial seeding was carried out in 24 petri dishes with agar Mitis salivarius. Oregano infusions were prepared at 8 different concentrations (1 %, 5 % and 10 %, 20 %, 40 %, 60 %, 80 % and 100 %) and applied in predrilled holes in the agar plates (4 perforations per plate for the oregano infusions and 2 for control plates). They were maintained in an incubator for 48 hours and measurement of the inhibition zones was subsequently carried out. The results were negative for infusions of oregano at 1 %, 5 % and 10 %, as they did not present halos of bacterial inhibition; while results were positive for infusions at 20 %, 40 %, 60 %, 80 % and 100 %. Results show that oregano has an antibacterial effect on the growth of Streptococcus mutans in infusion concentrations above 20 %, with the basic solution prepared from 20 g of dried oregano leaves (Origanum vulgare) and 200 ml of boiled distilled water. This antibacterial effect is directly proportional to the concentration of the infusion. Oregano could be used as an alternative mouthwash, toothpaste or other oral hygiene adjuvants to prevent the incidence of caries.
KEY WORDS: oregano (Origanum vulgare), antibacterial effect, Streptococcus mutans, caries.
How to cite this article
SCHOVELIN, H. A. & MUÑOZ, C. M. Antibacterial effect of oregano infusion (Origanum vulgare) on in vitro growth of Streptococcus mutans, 2015. Int. J. Odontostomat., 12(4):337-342, 2018.
