Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of vellaikodi variety of Piper betle Linn Leaf oil against dental pathogens

The Piper betle (Tamil: vetrilai) is a glabrous climbing vine belonging to the family Piperaceae . Essential oil from vellaikodi variety of Piper betle L leaves (Piperaceae) was extracted by hydro-distillation method in a clevenger type apparatus. The essential oil thus obtained was analyzed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography – mass spectroscopy. Sixty five components were identified in the oil. The 5-(2-propenyl)1,3-benzodioxole(25.67%) was determined as the first major constituent in the oil, The second was eugenol,( 18.27%)and third 2-methoxy-4-(2-propenyl) acetate-phenol (8.00) were predominant components in this oil. The antimicrobial screening of the isolated essential oil was performed against dental pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Candida albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The pronounced antimicrobial potential of Piper betle oil against tested pathogens concludes that it may serve as a source of antimicrobial agent for dental caries in commercial tooth paste. The physical parameters and HPTLC finger printing will be useful to identify and authenticate this variety of piper betle leaf oil in herbal industry.