Antibacterial efficacy of Syzygium aromaticum extracts on multi-drug resistant Streptococcus mutans isolated from dental plaque samples

Over the last few decades there has been a remarkable increase in the prevalence rate of Dental Caries. Streptococcus mutans has been implicated as major cariogenic bacteria because they produce high levels of lactic acid and extracellular polysaccharide. In the present study, 38 % of S. mutans was recovered from the dental plaque samples collected from patients. Antibiotic sensitivity tests revealed the emergence of Multi-Drug Resistance (MDR) with all the isolates being completely resistant to Penicillin, Amoxycillin and Ampicillin. Also, a decrease in sensitivity to  Bacitracin was observed. The isolates were sensitive to the antibiotics Erythromycin, Clindamycin, Ciprofloxacin and Azithromycin. Alternatively, Syzygium aromaticum (Clove), a traditional household spice with medicinal importance was attempted for its efficacy against the MDR S. mutans isolates. It was observed that the Syzygium aromaticum extract had a preponderant efficacy at a concentration of 1600 mg/ml with the maximum zone of inhibition. It was concluded that Syzygium aromaticum extracts could be an important alternate therapeutic agent in the management of drug resistant S. mutans.