Among the Mutans streptococci Streptococcus mutans, S sobrinus, S cricetus, and S. sobrinus is now generally accepted to be the most cariogenic species of the mutans streptococci. S. mutans is a major etiological agent in the deveopment of dental caries. The adsorption of mutans streptococci to the tooth surface is the first step in development of dental caries. In order to prevent such dental caries, materials inhibiting of adsorptionof bacteria to acquired pellicle are required.
The present study was designed to investigate . the effects of extracts of Sargassum horneri(Brown algae) on the growth, adherence to the Saliva-coated hydroxyapatite(S-HA) beads, and desorption to the S-HA beads of S. mutans(serotype c), S. sobrinus SL-1, and S sobrinus OMZ65 in vitro.
We found that extracts of Sargassium horneri strongly inhibited the adsorption of S sobrinus strains to S-HA beads, but enhanced that of S mutans. Furthermore, extracts of S. horneri had a desorption activity against S. mutans, S sobrinus
SL-1, and S. sobrinus OMZ65 preadsorbed to S-HA beads. Also, more than 95% of the growth of S. mutans and S. sobrinus OMZ65 was inhibited by 10ug/ml of each extracts of S horneri used.
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