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Antibacterial Effect of Coleus scutellarioides Leaf Extract Against the Growth of Streptococcus mutans

Dentistry Study Programme, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sriwijaya, Indonesia

Received: 3 Aug 2026; Revised: 22 Sep 2026; Accepted: 10 Oct 2026; Available online: 11 Nov 2026; Published: 1 Jun 2027.
Open Access Copyright 2026 Siti Rusdiana Puspa Dewi, Khofifa Arda Anggelina Putri, Ibnu Ajiedarmo, Novita Idayani
Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

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Abstract
Natural antibacterial agents have attracted considerable attention as safer and more affordable alternatives to synthetic antimicrobials. Coleus scutellarioides (miana) leaves contain flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, and saponins with potential antibacterial properties. This study evaluated the antibacterial activity of C. scutellarioides leaf extract against Streptococcus mutans, the primary causative bacterium of dental caries. An in vitro laboratory experiment with a post-test-only control group design was conducted. Leaf extract was tested at concentrations of 15.62, 31.25, 62.5, 125, and 250 mg/mL. Chlorhexidine 0.2% and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) served as positive and negative controls, respectively. Antibacterial activity was assessed using the disk diffusion method, while the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined by broth dilution. The extract showed concentration-dependent antibacterial activity. Mean inhibition zones were 3.80 ± 0.20, 5.25 ± 0.25, 7.50 ± 0.30, and 9.80 ± 0.20 mm at concentrations of 31.25, 62.5, 125, and 250 mg/mL, respectively. No inhibition zone was observed at 15.62 mg/mL or in the negative control. The MIC and MBC were 62.5 mg/mL and 125 mg/mL, respectively. It can be concluded that Coleus scutellarioides leaf extract demonstrated antibacterial activity against Streptococcus mutans and shows potential as a natural antibacterial agent for caries prevention.
Keywords: Antibacterial agents; Coleus scutellarioides; Dental caries; Phytotherapy; Streptococcus mutans.

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Article Info
Section: Original Research
Language : EN
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