Antibacterial Effects of Chewing Stick (ayan) Extracts on the Isolated Organisms Isolated from the Hand

ABSTRACT
Chewing sticks are commonly used as oral hygiene tool in various parts of the world. It is an affordable oral hygiene device that helps to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. The results of the antibacterial assay depict that the aqueous and ethanol extracts of the plant parts demonstrated inhibitory activity on the growth of the tested bacteria. The aqueous extracts of both Distemonanthus benthamianus were found to be activeagainst Streptococcus mutan,a key plaque-forming oral bacterium. Antibiotic susceptibility test was determined by the Streptococcus mutans isolates to antibiotics Amoxiclin, (25μ g), Ciprofloxacine (30μg) and Penicillin (25μg). The result showed that Streptococcus mutans susceptible to Amoxicllin,(25 μ g), Ciprofloxacine (30 μ g) and Penicillin (25 μ g) and resistant to Ampicillin and vancomycin.The antibacterial activity of water and crude ethanol extract were elucidate and it was observed that at 25μg, Distemonanthus benthamianus have the highest zone of inhibition at 7.0mm and least in Distemonanthus benthamianus at 5.0mm against Streptococcus mutans. This account for the potency of Distemnonanthus benthamianus and the reason it is a very important medicinal plant,with various uses in the herbal world.