EVALUATION OF ANTIMICROBIAL ACTION OF COFFEE AND ITS BY-PRODUCTS AGAINST STREPTOCOCCUS MUTANS: AN INVITRO STUDY

*Dr. Keerthan Bollamma P. B., Dr. Nanjamma K. K. and Dr. Ponnappa K. C.

ABSTRACT

Background & Objectives: Dental caries is widespread despite efforts made toward its prevention, the quest for a potentially more effective preventive agent with lesser adverse effects continues. Coffee, a local produce of Coorg in Karnataka, is one such herbal alternative. This study aims at assessing the potential antimicrobial activity of various Robusta coffee extracts on Streptococcus mutans. Methods: Extracts of green coffee bean, coffee pulp, and coffee leaves were prepared by various methods (boiling, maceration, Soxhlet extraction) and using different solvents (distilled water, ethanol, ethyl acetate, hexane) to determine the extraction procedure which gives adequate antimicrobial action against Streptococcus mutans. Results: Out of the samples evaluated for antimicrobial efficacy, only coffee pulp extracts using ethyl acetate and ethanol showed clear zones of inhibition in well cultures on Mitis salivarius agar enriched with bacitracin. The yield was greater when ethanol was used as a solvent, and hence it was used for microplating to determine the Minimal Inhibitory concentration which was 12.5 mg/ml concentration. Interpretation & Conclusion: Within the limitations of the study, it can be concluded that coffee pulp is a potential herbal alternative for caries prevention considering its antimicrobial action against Streptococcus mutans. Further studies are required to assess its efficacy invivo.

Keywords: Caries prevention, Robusta coffee extracts, Streptococcus mutans.