the in vitro study of the synergistic antibacterial effect of hydroalcoholic mentha extract with alum on the growth of streptococcus mutans

Antimicrobial resistance poses a significant global health challenge, necessitating the search for novel therapeutic approaches. streptococcus mutans, a key etiological agent in dental caries, requires innovative strategies due to its biofilm-forming ability and resistance to conventional antibiotics. natural plant-derived compounds have garnered attention as potential antimicrobial agents with a low risk of resistance development. in this study, we investigated the synergistic antibacterial effect of a hydroalcoholic mentha extract combined with alum against streptococcus mutans (ptcc 16836). the well diffusion assay demonstrated that alum exhibited a larger inhibition zone diameter (12.04 ± 2.02 mm) compared to the hydroalcoholic mentha extract (10.33 ± 1.53 mm). however, the minimum inhibitory concentration (mic) values for the hydroalcoholic mentha extract (8.20 ± 5.57 mg/ml) and alum (0.35 ± 0.20 mg/ml) were comparable. the minimum bactericidal concentration (mbc) for the hydroalcoholic mentha extract was 10 mg/ml, while the mbc for alum was 0.625 ± 0.006 mg/ml. the combination of these substances demonstrated a synergistic effect, indicating enhanced antibacterial activity against streptococcus mutans.the study's findings suggest potential applications in dentistry, offering a natural and effective adjunctive treatment for dental caries management. the underlying mechanisms of this synergistic effect warrant further exploration. to translate these promising findings into clinical applications, further in vivo investigations and rigorously designed clinical trials are necessary to establish the safety and efficacy of this combination therapy. the natural origin of these substances may provide an environmentally sustainable and cost-effective approach in the fight against antimicrobial resistance.