Antimicrobial Effect of Lignosus rhinocerus Extracts Against Streptococcus mutans

Abstract

Dental caries, a widespread dental health problem, is primarily caused by the Streptococcus mutans. The prevalence of dental caries remains a worldwide health concern, causing pain and tooth decay. Today's treatment relies mainly on antibiotics, however overuse of antibiotics has contributed to the development of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria, causing several common treatments ineffective. This expanding challenge needs the urgent exploration of alternative antimicrobial medicines to facilitate successful prevention of dental caries. This research project investigates the antimicrobial activity of Lignosus rhinocerus against S. mutans. L. rhinocerus or commonly known as tiger milk mushroom is a medicinal mushroom with an extensive tradition of usage in Southeast Asia for its medicinal properties. The purposes of this study were to produce L. rhinocerus extracts using water and ethanol, determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and evaluate inhibitory activity using the disc diffusion assay.