Phytochemical and Antibacterial Potential of Vernonia Adoensis Stem Bark to Curb Cariogenic Microorganisms
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Date
2016
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
American Journal of Phytomedicine and Clinical Therapeutics
Abstract
Background: Oral diseases are one of the most common diseases of
humankind, which have received little attention globally. Weak
health care systems, high cost of conventional oral hygiene agents
and drug resistance are the major confounding factors in the fight
against oral infections. Plants offer alternative arsenal of cheap and
safe agents in enhancing oral health. Additionally plants present a
blend of compounds which work concertedly against the microbes.
This mechanisms of action provides negligible chances of drug
resistance. This study was undertaken to assess the antibacterial
activity of Vernonia adoensis against selected common oral
microorganisms.
Objectives: To test the phytochemicals present and the antibacterial
activity of methanol and acetone extracts of Vernonia adoensis stem
bark against selected cariogenic microorganisms.
Methodology: The plant samples were extracted using maceration
method using methanol and acetone as solvents. Phytochemicals
screening was done using standard procedures with minor
adjustments and antibacterial activity was done using disc diffusion
method.
Results: The plant extracts were found to inhibit the growth of all
selected cariogenic bacteria, except Streptococcus pyogenes which
was found to be resistant against the acetone extract. All
phytochemicals tested in the plant stem bark were present.
Discussion: The effectiveness of the plant against cariogenic bacteria
could be attributed to the presence of various phytochemicals found
in the plant. The present study demonstrates that the stem bark of
Vernonia adoensis has the potential to prevent orally infectious
diseases caused by the selected cariogenic microorganisms.