In this study was evaluated the in vitro antibacterial activity and the inhibition of glucan sintesis of the fruit bark of Punica granatum Linn extract upon the following dental biofilm bacteria: Streptococcus mitis, Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguis, Streptococcus sobrinus and Lactobacillus casei. The tests were carried out by inundation tecniques in Petri dishes to determine the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and inclined tubes techniques to determine the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration of Adherence to glass (MICA) at the presence of 5% sucrose. Tests with gluconate of chlorexidine (0.12%) were performed as controls. MICs of the P granatum extract dilutions (mg/mL) against S. mitis, S. mutans, S. sanguis, S. sobrinus e L. casei were 1:32, 1:8, 1:8, 1:512, and 1:128 respectively. For MICAs the P. granatum showed better results than chlorexidine, except for S. mutans with both substances showing similar results of 1:256. It can be concluded that the extract of the P. granatum has the potential to inhibit oral bacterial growth and glucan sintesis. The extract of the Punica granatum might be used as an effective antibacterial alternative agent against oral biofilm bacteria.
Punica granatum; antibacterial activity; effect antiaderent; dental biofilme; Streptococcus
