Introduction:

Streptococcus mutans is involved in the genesis and progress of dental caries, one of the most prevalent diseases worldwide, whose control requires safe methods accessible to the population. Myrciaria dubia (Kunth) McVaugh (Myrtaceae) (camu camu) is a tree native to the Peruvian Amazon. The antimicrobial capacity of the components of its fruit has already been verified.

Objective:

Evaluate the in vitro antibacterial activity of M. dubia hydroethanolic extract against S. mutans ATCC 35658.

Methods:

An experimental study was conducted with post-test analysis and control groups. The extract from the pulp of the fruit of M. dubia was obtained by hydroethanolic maceration. The concentrations evaluated were 25 mg/mL, 50 mg/mL and 75 mg/mL. Antibacterial capacity was determined by the disc diffusion method. The positive control was 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate, whereas the negative control was 1% dimethyl sulfoxide.

Results:

The antibacterial activity increased directly proportional to the concentration of the extract. The concentration of 75 mg/mL showed a mean inhibition of 18.2 ± 0.774 mm, followed by the concentration of 50 mg/mL with a mean inhibition of 14.6 ± 1.055 mm and the concentration of 25 mg/mL with an average inhibition halo of 10.1 ± 0.833 mm. The zone of inhibition of the positive control was 16.5 ± 0.516 mm. There is a statistically significant difference between the concentration of 75 mg / mL and the positive control (p< 0.05).

Conclusions:

The M. dubia hydroethanolic extract displays in vitro antibacterial bactericidal activity against S. mutans ATCC 35668.

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