Inhibition of Streptococcus mutans with extracts of Rubus ulmifolius, Passiflora mollissima and Vaccinium floribundum

It is known that excessive consumption of sugars leads to tooth decay and obesity, among other diseases. Some phenolic compounds have an antimicrobial character. In this study, the antimicrobial activity of blackberry (Rubus ulmifolius), taxa (Passiflora mollissima) and mortiño (Vaccinium floribundum) was evaluated in vitro in concentrations of 1, 2, 3% against Streptococcus mutans, a microorganism responsible for the development of dental caries. The method of diffusion with discs was used. The effect of fruit addition to whole milk provided by the School Feeding Program was evaluated by sensory analysis with the addition of taxo and mortiño at 1%. The results showed that blackberry, mortiño and taxo extracts presented an average inhibition halo at 24h of 1.34, 1.42, and 1.57 cm and at 48h of 1.31, 1.40 and 1.46 cm, respectively. Mortiño and taxo had equal inhibitory activity (p<0.05). The extracts with different concentrations showed that the concentration of 3% presented a greater inhibition zone with respect to 1 and 2%, being these last two statistically equal. The results of the sensory analysis showed that the mortiño-flavored milk had the greatest acceptance, with a classification of "I like it very much" in a 5-point hedonic scale. In conclusion, mortiño is the recommended fruit to use as milk flavoring, added to the fact that it also has high inhibitory power against S. mutans.

• Main Author: Santacruz Terán, Stalin Gustavo (author)
• Other Authors: Tagle González, Rudy Gissella (author)
• Format: article
• Language: spa
• Published: 2020
• Online Access: https://revistasespam.espam.edu.ec/index.php/Revista_ESPAMCIENCIA/article/view/220