Mr. OJEAH IKECHUKWU KINGSLEY
Publication Title Antimicrobial effects of blue vitriol and brimstone on dental caries isolates
Publication Type journal
Publisher International Journal of Science and Research Archive, 2023, 10(01), 736–741
Publication Authors Onyekachukwu Izuchukwu Udemezue 1, *, Uchechi Mercy Njoemena 1, Euphemia Afoma Ikegwuonu 1, Chijioke Obinna Ezenwelu 2 and Ikechukwu Kingsley Ojeah 1
Year Published 2023-10-10
Abstract Natural compounds are organic products synthesized by living organisms or found in nature. The natural compounds
of interest were blue vitriol and brimstone. Caries is a chronic, multifactorial disease, which causes destruction and
demineralization of hard tissues of teeth by acid production occurring from bacterial fermentation of food. The
antimicrobial activity of brimstones and blue vitriol (blue stone) against isolates from dental caries was evaluated.
Eighty-five dental swab specimens were aseptically collected from dental caries patients. The isolates were identified
based on their microscopic, macroscopic, biochemical and molecular characteristics. They include Candida tropicalis,
Streptococcus mutans, Lactobacillus sppand Staphylococcus aureus. Agar-well diffusion and broth dilution methods were
used to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility of the isolates. The test showed that the isolates were susceptible to
some of the natural stones as zones of inhibition were observed. Blue stone gave the highest inhibition zone diameter
of 46.20±1.10 mm against Lactobacillus spp at 200 mg/ml. Brimstones showed no zone of inhibition on all the isolates.
The Minimal Inhibition Concentration of bluestone was 50 mg/ml; and 200 mg/ml for brimstone against Staphylococcus
aureus. The minimum bactericidal concentration of bluestone was 50 mg/ml against Staphylococcus aureus and 200
mg/ml against the other isolates. Thus, natural stones can be used as antimicrobials in the production of dental care
products and in treatment of dental caries.