Phytochemical Screening and Antibacterial Test of Streptococcus mutans Using Extracts of Five Piperaceae Species

Background: The Piper genus has 700 species distributed around the world, which have many benefits as traditional medicines. Some of them are red betel, Javanese chili, Chinese betel, green betel, and forest betel, which are included in the Piperaceae family. One of the biggest threats to public health and global development is antimicrobial resistance. Objective: Therefore, the aim of this study was to conduct phytochemical screening of extracts from five piperaceae species as natural antibiotics for the antibacterial test of Sterptococcus mutans. Methods: The extraction method used was UAE (ultrasound-assisted extraction) with three solvents of different polarity, namely n-hexane, ethyl acetate and ethanol. MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) and DDH (diameter of inhibition) tests were conducted by solid agar dilution method, and paper disc diffusion method. Results: The results of MIC testing of the five piperaceae species show that the best extracts, which have the smallest MIC value, are forest betel leaf extract, namely 5% n-Hexane and red betel leaf extract, namely n-Hexane and 5% ethyl acetate. The results of DDH testing of the five piperaceae species show that the best extract that has the greatest DDH value is green betel leaf extract with ethyl acetate solvent, DDH value of 23.26 mm ± 0.21 included in the Susceptible category. Conclusion: The results can be concluded that the best extract is green betel leaf extract with ethyl acetate solvent, DDH value of 23.26 mm ± 0.21 against Streptococcus mutans included in the Susceptible category.