Antibacterial Effects of Green Tea Extract and Perilla Seed Oil on Oral Bacteria

Cynthia Laird

Date of Award

2008

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Natural Sciences

First Advisor

Gilchrist, Sandra

Keywords

Antibacterrial, Oral Bacterial, Microbiology

Area of Concentration

Biology

Abstract

Dental caries is an infectious disease wherein tooth enamel is progressively dissolved by acid producing bacteria in the mouth. Preventative strategies, most notably in the form of fluoride products, are the most common means of treating caries, however, fluoride-free products are also available. Often alternative treatments are plant-based and less strictly regulated than their more conventional counterparts. Determining whether two such alternative ingredients truly exhibit antibacterial action against oral bacteria was the objective of this research. Polyphenolic compounds from two plant sources, green tea and perilla seed oil, were tested to determine antibacterial properties against Streptococcus salivarius and Lactobacillus acidophilus. Although both showed strong antibacterial activity against S. salivarius, inhibitive effects against L. acidophilus were more ambiguous. Green tea showed stronger activity than perilla seed oil, possibly due to a lower concentration of polyphenols in the latter. Determination of specific polyphenolic constituents in these commercial sources is suggested before true inhibitive concentration can be determined. Influence on other oral bacteria as well as bioavailability of these products should also be researched before the beneficial nature of their affects can be fully claimed.

Rights

This bibliographic record is available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication. The New College of Florida, as creator of this bibliographic record, has waived all rights to it worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law.

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