Comparative Study of Ethanolic Wild African Nutmeg (Pycnanthus angolensis (Welw.) Stem Bark Extract Potentials and Selected Conventional Toothpaste against Hidden Resident Mouth Cavity Microfora

The aim of the study is to evaluate and compare the antibacterial activity of ethanolic stem extract of (Wild African nutmeg) Pycnanthus angolensis (Welw.) and some commercially available toothpaste against bacteria isolated from the hidden resident mouth cavity microfora. Bacteria were isolated from swabs of apparently healthy individuals and were identified using Staining procedure biochemical tests and the use of Bergey’s manual of bacteria identification The assay for antibacterial activity of Pycnanthus angolensis stem bark extract and the four toothpastes were determined using agar well diffusion method. The Gram positive bacteria isolated were Streptococcus sangus, Streptococcus ratti, Stomatococcus mucilaginous., Peptostreptococcus sp., and Streptococcus mutans and the Gram negative bacteria were Veillonella atypical, Veillonella parvula, Veillonella dispar and Acidiaminococcus sp. Oral B toothpaste showed maximum efficacy of inhibition with inhibition zone diameter as wide as 20 mm at 100 mg/ml. Percentage frequency distribution of antibacterial activity of conventional toothpaste (Close-up) against hidden resident mouth cavity microfora depicts Acidaminococcus sp.13%, Veillonella parvula (10%), Veillonella dispar (12%), Peptostreptococcus sp.(12%), Stomatococcus mucilaginous.(9%), Streptococcus ratti (13%), Veillonella atypical (11%), Streptococcus sangus (9%) and Streptococcus mutans (11%), Percentage frequency distribution of antibacterial activity of conventional toothpaste (Oral B toothpaste) against hidden resident mouth cavity microfora reveals Acidaminococcus sp.(11%,) Veillonella dispar (11%), Veillonella parvula (10%), Peptostreptococcus sp. (12%), Stomatococcus mucilaginous.(15%), Streptococcus ratti (11%), Veillonella atypical (8%), Streptococcus sangus (10%), and Streptococcus mutans (12%), Percentage frequency distribution of antibacterial activity of conventional toothpaste (MyMy toothpaste) against hidden resident mouth cavity microfora depicts Acidaminococcus sp.(12%), Veillonella dispar (9%), Veillonella parvula (8%), Peptostreptococcus sp.(10%), Stomatococcus mucilaginous.(16%), Streptococcus ratti (9%), Veillonella atypical (15%),Streptococcus sangus (9%) and Streptococcus mutans (12%), Percentage frequency distribution of antibacterial activity of conventional toothpaste (Olive toothpaste) against hidden resident mouth cavity microfora shows Acidaminococcus sp.(9%), Veillonella dispar (10%), Veillonella parvula (10%), Peptostreptococcus sp.(12%), Stomatococcus mucilaginous.(13%), Streptococcus ratti (10%) ,Veillonella atypical (17%), Streptococcus sangus (7%), and Streptococcus mutans (12%). Pycnanthus Angolensis stem bark extract inhibited the growth of the oral bacterial isolates with of zones of inhibition diameter ranging from 6 mm to 17 mm at a concentration of 100mg/ml. Secondary metabolite (Phytochemical) screening shows the presence of flavonoids, tannins, saponins, alkaloids, reducing sugars, steroid, phenol, terpenoid, pyrrolozidine alkaloid, glycoside and cardiac glycoside with glycoside and terpenoid most present. However, anthraquinones and volatile oil were absent. With menial antibacterial activity, P. angolensis can be use in the formulation of herbal toothpaste. It should be advocated that Pycnanthus angolensis should be added to our convention toothpaste to improve the functional ingredient of the toothpaste and Plant-based traditional knowledge has become a recognized tool in search for new sources of drugs. It is clear that the use of these herbal plants can offer a platform for further research.

Complete Genome Sequence of Streptococcus ratti JH145

We report here the complete genome sequence of Streptococcus ratti strain JH145. Streptococcus ratti is a cariogenic species of mutans streptococcus that has been isolated from rat and human teeth. The strain JH145, derived from strain BHT-2, is interesting for oral health because it does not produce cariogenic lactic acid but shows robust biofilm production.

Streptococcus ursoris sp. nov., isolated from the oral cavities of bears

Three Gram-positive, catalase-negative, coccus-shaped organisms were isolated from the oral cavities of bears. The isolates were tentatively identified as a streptococcal species based on the results of biochemical tests. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequencing studies confirmed that the organisms were members of the genus Streptococcus, but they did not correspond to any recognized species of the genus. The nearest phylogenetic relative of the new isolates was Streptococcus ratti ATCC 19645T (98.6 %), however, DNA–DNA hybridization analysis showed that the isolates displayed less than 15 % DNA–DNA relatedness with the type strain of S. ratti. Colonies of the novel strains grown on mitis salivarius agar showed an extracellular polysaccharide-producing colony morphology. Based on phenotypic and phylogenetic evidence, it is proposed that the novel isolates are classified in the genus Streptococcus as Streptococcus ursoris sp. nov. The type strain of S. ursoris is NUM 1615T (=JCM 16316T=DSM 22768T).