Page 44 - MDJ 2022 Jan-Jun, Volume 45 Number 1

Said Gulam Khan / Khor / Mohd Sarmin / Jambai / Mohd Azlan / Nordin

extraction, and is safe for human consumption. It is also
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the most commonly used solvent other than aqueous and
methanol. Many studies have shown positive effects of
antimicrobial property in correlation to using ethanol as a
solvent. It has been reported by Valle et al. (2016), that
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the ethanol extract proved to be more potent than the
methanol. This is proven with the increasing diameter of
inhibitory zone as the concentration of the extract
increases. The minimum inhibitory concentration and
minimum bactericidal concentration tests were conducted
in order to determine the lowest concentration that inhibits
and kills the bacteria respectively. It shows that ethanolic
extracts of Ziziphus mauritiana leaves can inhibit and kill
the growth of S. mutans at the concentration of
3.125 mg/mℓ. Thus, this extract exhibits a bactericidal
effect on this cariogenic bacterium. Other studies reported
the antibacterial activity of ethanolic extracts of Ziziphus
Figure 6: Minimum bactericidal test of the ethanolic extract of mauritiana leaves on the growth of Bacillus subtilis,
Z. mauritiana leaves against S. mutans. Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas
aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi with inhibition zones
DISCUSSION ranging between 7–18 mm. 14,21 Based on those studies,
Ziziphus mauritiana leaf extracts are shown to possess
Approximately 20 % of known medicinal plants antibacterial properties with almost similar strength on
have been used in pharmaceutical studies, impacting the many bacteria that are involved in various human diseases.
healthcare system in advantageous ways such as treating Previous studies reported the presence of bioactive
cancer and other harmful diseases. Besides that, medicinal compound in Ziziphus mauritiana leaf extracts may have
plants are also known as a good alternative treatment for inhibited the growth of the bacteria tested. 14,22 In future,
dental caries since the use of synthetic chemicals in oral isolation and identification of the bioactive compounds,
healthcare products have proved to elicit harmful and studies on the effect of the crude and isolated compounds
undesirable effects such as resistance of bacteria, vomiting, on the bacterial cell morphology, and molecular studies on
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oral cancer, and tooth staining. In addition, medical the activity of this extract against selected bacteria should
plants are cheaper compared to synthetic drugs. They are be carried out. Future studies on the activity of this extract
also reliable, easily available, affordable, and possess on the biofilm of this bacteria will also provide better
minimal environmental hazard. In the current study, understanding on the mechanism of action of the active
Ziziphus mauritiana was chosen due to its known potential compound’s present in this extract.
in treating various diseases. Bioactive compounds such as
phenolics, tannins, and flavonoids have been reported to CONCLUSION
contribute to antimicrobial activity against various types
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of bacteria. According to Ashraf et al. (2015), Ziziphus In conclusion, the findings of the current study
mauritiana possesses a significant total phenolics content suggest that the ethanolic extract of Ziziphus mauritiana
and total flavonoids content in comparison to different leaves has antibacterial activity against an aetiological
extraction solvents. Many previous studies reported the agent of dental caries. Thus, the information gathered from
antibacterial activity of Ziziphus mauritiana leaf extract, this study can be used for the development of novel oral
however studies on the effect of the ethanolic extract of healthcare products with low cost and fewer side effects.
these leaves on Streptococcus mutans have not been Besides that, the data obtained from the current study can
reported elsewhere. Therefore, the current study was be used as reference by other researchers.
conducted in order to investigate the antibacterial activities
of Ziziphus mauritiana leaf extract on the most cariogenic FUNDING
bacteria, Streptococcus mutans, which is normally found
in the oral cavity. This study was funded by the LESTARI Grant
UiTM 2016.
The antibacterial study was conducted using disc
diffusion test in order to screen the effect of the extract on REFERENCES
the selected bacteria. Based on the results obtained,
ethanolic extracts of Ziziphus mauritiana leaves inhibited 1. Global Burden of Disease Collaborative Network.
Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 (GBD 2019).
the growth of S. mutans at very low concentrations used Published 2020. http://ghdx.healthdata.org/gbd-results-
(200 mg/mℓ and 500 mg/mℓ). Increased antimicrobial tool
activity is expected in higher concentrations of the extract 2. Bernama. 9 in 10 Malaysian adults have periodontal
as a greater abundance of the active compound is present disease and dental caries. The Sundaily. Published
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in the extract. Ethanol was chosen because it is effective, 2016. http://www.thesundaily.my/news/1733164
efficient, has been known as a good solvent for polyphenol 3. Leitão TJ, Cury JA, Tenuta LMA. Kinetics of calcium

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