Inhibitory Effect of Bursa Propolis on Dental Caries Formation in Rats Inoculated with Streptococcus sobrinus

The effect of propolis on the growth of Lactobacillus casei RSKK 591, Streptococcus mutans NCTC 10449 and Streptococcus sobrinus DSN sobrinus 20742 was investigated in vitro. Bursa propolis had the most inhibitory effect on S. sobrinus. The effect of Bursa propolis on rats inoculated with S. sobrinus was also studied. In rats inoculated with the bacteria and given propolis, the severity of sulcal enamel and superficial dentine lesions was significantly less than that in the control group, but colony forming unit numbers and the caries scores in other levels were not different. Weight gains, and the food and water consumption of the rats were nearly the same, apart from a decrease in weight gain in the control group in the first week, and a decrease in water intake in the propolis group after the second week. The results of this study suggest that propolis is effective in controlling dental caries in the rat model.