Antibacterial activity of green seaweeds on oral bacteria

In present study, methanol extracts of the Chlorophycean group of seaweeds have been tested for their antibacterial activity against oral bacteria causing dental caries. Different concentrations of the extracts of the four species of seaweedsChaetomorpha antennina, Cladophora fascicularis, Spongomorpha indica and Ulva fasciata collected from sea coast of Visakhapatnam have been tested for their antibacterial activity against three oral pathogenic bacteria, Actinomyces viscosus (MTCC 7345), Streptococcus mitis (MTCC 2696), and Streptococcus mutans (MTCC 1943). The antibacterial sensitivity was studied by Agar disc diffusion method. Of these, U. fasciata has shown greater inhibition on all the three oral bacteria than C. antennina, C. fascicularis and S. indica. C. fascicularis has inhibited S. mitis and A. viscosus whereas C. antennina and S. indica inhibited only A. viscosus. The present findings reveal that these seaweeds have the potential antibacterial substances which can be used against oral pathogens as food additives, mouthwashes, chewing gums for preventing and treating dental caries.