Antimicrobial activity of Curcuma amada extract on Streptococcus mutans—An in vitro study

CONTEXT: Dental caries is prevalent in spite of widespread use of mechanical and chemical plaque control methods. Streptococcus mutans is said to have a strong background in initiation of dental caries. Hence, exceptional methods are required which would be effective against dental caries. Current era is taking people back to traditional or herbal medicine, which is said to have comparatively better healing effects than synthetic drugs in the market. AIM: Determine and analyse the minimum zone of inhibition of Curcuma amada against Streptococcus mutans. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: An In vitro Study. METHODS, STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: The well diffusion method using blood agar plates was used to evaluate the antibacterial activity of 5%, 10% and 25% concentration of C. Amada extract against Streptococcus mutans in comparison with 0.2% chlorhexidine. Results were statistically analysed using independent sample t-test or Mann–Whitney U test to compare mean or median zone of inhibition between two groups. Thus, the zone of inhibition (in mm) was analysed using the mean of all the readings obtained and the level of significance at <0.05 was considered statistically significant at 5% of level of significance. RESULTS: Maximum zone of inhibition was found to be with C. amada compared to corresponding concentration of 0.2% chlorhexidine. Thus, inhibitory effect of C. amada is significantly better than 5%, 10% and 25% chlorhexidine mouthwash. The inhibitory effect increases as the concentration increases. CONCLUSIONS: The antibacterial activity of C. amada against Streptococcus mutans raises the possibility of incorporating it in various dental therapeutic agents.