Antimicrobial Effects of Ursolic Acid against Mutans Streptococci Isolated from Koreans.
- Author:
Min Jung KIM
1
;
Chun Sung KIM
;
Jae Yoon PARK
;
Yun Kyong LIM
;
Soon Nang PARK
;
Sug Joon AHN
;
Dong Chun JIN
;
Tae Hyung KIM
;
Joong Ki KOOK
Author Information
1. Department of Oral Biochemistry and Oral Biology Research Institute, School of Dentistry, Chosun University, Gwangju 501-759, Korea. jkkook@chosun.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
antimicrobial effect;
Streptococcus mutans;
Streptococcus sobrinus;
ursolic acid
- MeSH:
Dental Caries;
Humans;
KB Cells;
Microbial Sensitivity Tests;
Oral Hygiene;
Streptococcus mutans;
Streptococcus sobrinus;
Triterpenes
- From:International Journal of Oral Biology
2011;36(1):7-11
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Ursolic acid is a triterpenoid compound present in many plants. This study examined the antimicrobial activity of ursolic acid against mutans streptococci (MS) isolated from the Korean population. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated by the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and time kill curves of MS. The cytotoxicity of ursolic acid against KB cells was tested using an MTT assay. The MIC90 values of ursolic acid for Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus isolated from the Korean population were 2 microg/ml and 4 microg/ml, respectively. Ursolic acid had a bactericidal effect on S. mutans ATCC 25175T and S. sobrinus ATCC 33478T at > 2 x MIC (4 microg/ml) and 4 x MIC (8 microg/ml), respectively. Ursolic acid had no cytotoxic effect on KB cells at concentrations at which it exerted antimicrobial effects. The results suggest that ursolic acid can be used in the development of oral hygiene products for the prevention of dental caries.
