Inhibitory Effect of Korean Mugwort (<i>Artemisia princeps</i> Pamp.) Extract on Growth and Biofilm Formation of <i>Streptococcus mutans</i>

Background: Dental plaque biofilms play a key role in the development of oral diseases such as dental caries. Streptococcus mutans is the primary contributor to oral biofilm formation and leads to the formation of other microbial communities. Artemisia princeps (AP) is a traditional herbal medicine with various pharmacological activities, including analgesic, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory. This study investigated the inhibitory effects of AP extract on the growth and biofilm formation of S. mutans. Methods: AP extract was obtained via methanol extraction. The antimicrobial activity of the AP extract against S. mutans was measured using the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) test. Antibiofilm activity of the AP extract was investigated using a human saliva-coated biofilm formation assay, and the biofilms were confirmed using crystal violet. Results: AP extract reduced the growth of S. mutans in a dose-dependent manner, with an MBC of 1,250 ppm. Additionally, at 1,000 ppm of AP extract, biofilm formation was inhibited by approximately 70% compared to the negative control group, which is a higher anti-biofilm activity than chlorhexidine solution as positive control. Conclusion: AP extract, which showed high antibacterial and antibiofilm activities against S. mutans, has potential as a preventive and therapeutic agent against oral diseases.