Extract of Juglandaceae regia inhibits growth, in-vitro adherence, acid production and aggregation of Streptococcus mutans

Aqueous and alcoholic extracts from Juglandaceae regia, used as chewing sticks to maintain oral hygiene, were tested for their ability to inhibit the growth and some physiological functions of Streptococcus mutans. Both the aqueous and the alcoholic extract strongly inhibited the growth, in-vitro adherence, acid production and glucan-induced aggregation of S. mutans. At a concentration of 80% w/v, the aqueous extract produced a 95% inhibition (P < 0.05) of adherence of S. mutans to glass and a 40% inhibition (P < 0.05) of adherence to tooth surface. The alcoholic extract at a concentration of 10% w/v produced a 95% inhibition (P < 0.05) of adherence of S. mutans to glass and a 56% inhibition (P < 0.05) of adherence to tooth surface. At concentrations of 2% w/v the aqueous and alcoholic extracts significantly inhibited (P < 0.05) glucan-induced aggregation of S. mutans and the in-vitro salivary glycolytic reaction for up to 5 h. Bactericidal effects on S. mutants were also evident. At a concentration of 10% w/v, the zone of inhibition observed with the aqueous extract was 12 +/- 0.01 mm and that observed with the alcoholic extract was 12.6 +/- 0.02 mm. As the in-vitro studies had shown that both the aqueous and the alcoholic extract of J. regia, at concentrations of 10% w/v, could inhibit the growth as well as the acid-producing ability of S. mutans, they were tested at the same concentration for their activity in-vivo. Three subjects were employed. Parameters monitored were salivary bacterial count and salivary glycolysis. Mouth-rinsing with the aqueous but not the alcoholic extract significantly reduced total streptococcal counts in the salivary samples obtained up to, and including, 3 h after rinsing, compared with the counts obtained pre-rinsing or after placebo rinsing. Mouth-rinsing with the aqueous extract produced a 65%, 27% and 78% reduction (P < 0.05) in the streptococcal count in the salivary samples obtained 10 min, 1 h and 3 h after rinsing, respectively. Both the aqueous and the alcoholic extract also inhibited the glycolytic reaction by the salivary bacteria for up to 90 min post-rinsing. This study provides evidence to justify the use of J. regia sticks as an aid to maintain oral hygiene.