Evaluation of minimum inhibitory concentration of methanol extract of cacao seeds on growth of Streptococcus mutans bacteria by microdilution method

Background: Indonesia is famous for its medicinal plants. Cocoa bean (Theobroma cacao L.) is a plant widely used as a traditional medicine alternative to cure diseases. Cocoa beans contain alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins and tannins which are antibacterial and have potential as antioxidants. Various dental and oral diseases that occur are caused by bacteria, one of which is Streptococcus mutans which causes dental caries. Bacteria that play an important role in the occurrence of dental caries is Streptococcus mutans. Dental caries can be prevented by chemically and mechanically maintaining oral hygiene using antiseptics that have antibacterial properties. This study aimed to test the minimum inhibitory concentration of methanol extract of cocoa seeds on the growth of Streptococcus mutans with the microdilution method. Methods: The research method is the microdilution method with concentrations of 0.753%, 1.563%, 3.125%, 6.25%, 12.5%, 25%, 50%, 100%. Streptococcus mutans bacteria were obtained from the University of Indonesia's veterinary laboratory. Results: The results showed that the minimum inhibitory concentration of methanol extract of cocoa beans on the growth of Streptococcus mutans was at a concentration of 1.563%. Conclusions: In conclusion, the methanol extract of cocoa beans has an inhibitory effect on Streptococcus mutans bacteria and there is a minimum inhibitory concentration at a concentration of 1.563%. It is recommended to continue to toothpaste medication and do preclinical trials.

Irrigation water consumption modelling of a soilless cucumber crop under specific greenhouse conditions in a humid tropical climate / Modelação de consumo de água de irrigação de pepino sem solo em condições específicas de uma casa de vegetação em um clima tropical húmido

ABSTRACT: The irrigation water consumption of a soilless cucumber crop under greenhouse conditions in a humid tropical climate has been evaluated in this paper in order to improve the irrigation water and fertilizers management in these specific conditions. For this purpose, a field experiment was conducted. Two trials were carried out during the years 2011 and 2014 in an experimental farm located in Vinces (Ecuador). In each trial, the complete growing cycle of a cucumber crop grown under a greenhouse was evaluated. Crop development was monitored and a good fit to a sigmoidal Gompertz type growth function was reported. The daily water uptake of the crop was measured and related to the most relevant indoor climate variables. Two different combination methods, namely the Penman-Monteith equation and the Baille equation, were applied. However, the results obtained with these combination methods were not satisfactory due to the poor correlation between the climatic variables, especially the incoming radiation, and the crop's water uptake (WU). On contrary, a good correlation was reported between the crop's water uptake and the leaf area index (LAI), especially in the initial crop stages. However, when the crop is fully developed, the WU stabilizes and becomes independent from the LAI. A preliminary model to simulate the water uptake of the crop was adjusted using the data obtained in the first experiment and then validated with the data of the second experiment.

RESUMO: Com o objetivo de melhorar a gestão da água de irrigação e fertilizantes em condições específicas, foi avaliado, neste trabalho, o consumo de água de irrigação de pepinos cultivados sem solo em casa de vegetação. Para avaliar este efeito, conduziu-se um experimento de campo. O trabalho de pesquisa foi composto de dois ensaios realizados durante os anos de 2011 e 2014 em Vinces (Equador), onde predomina o clima tropical. Em cada ensaio, avaliou-se o ciclo de crescimento completo da cultura do pepino cultivada em estufa.O desenvolvimento da cultura foi monitorado e um bom ajuste para a função de crescimento tipo sigmoidal Gompertz foi encontrado. A absorção de água diária da cultura foi medida e relacionada às variáveis climáticas mais relevantes. Com o objetivo de modelar o consumo de água das culturas, dois métodos de combinação diferentes, isto é, a equação de Penman-Monteith e a equação Baille, foram aplicadas. No entanto, os resultados obtidos com estes métodos de combinação não foram satisfatórios devido a fraca correlação entre as variáveis climáticas, especialmente, a radiação incidente e absorção de água pela cultura (WU). Por outro lado, foi encontrada uma boa correlação entre a captação de água da cultura e o índice de área foliar (LAI), especialmente, nos estágios iniciais da cultura. No entanto, quando a cultura está completamente desenvolvida, o WU estabiliza e torna-se independente do LAI. Um modelo preliminar para simular a absorção de água da cultura foi ajustado e utilizado e, os dados obtidos do primeiro experimento foram comparados com os dados do segundo.

Efecto fungicida de la solución sobresaturada de azúcar, eugenol y polietilenglicol 400 sobre Candida albicans / Fungicidal effect of oversatured sugar, eugenol and polyethyleneglycole 400 solution on Candida albicans

El presente estudio tuvo por objeto lograr disminuir el tiempo de sobrevida de Candida albicans incorporada a una solución sobresaturada de azúcar con eugenol y polietilenglicol 400 (PEG). El tiempo de muerte para Candida albicans en la solución sobresaturada de azúcar + eugenol se estimó en dos días. Con el agregado de PEG 400 se abrevió este tiempo a minutos. Estos resultados nos sugieren que el PEG 400 colaboraría en el descenso de la actividad agua (aw) y como consecuencia la disminución de sobrevida de Candida albicans

Estudio in vitro de la acción fungicida del Eugenol en solución sobresaturada de azúcar / Clove oil in over saturated sugar solution: its antifungal activity in vitro

De acuerdo a investigaciones previas realizadas con solución sobresaturada de azúcar, hemos comprobado su acción fungicida, la cual había sido probada satisfactoriamente sobre bacterias por la Dra. Joseph, A. y cols. A la solución sobresaturada de azúcar se incorporó eugenol, con el objeto de acelerar la muerte de las cepas fúngicas ensayadas. Se observaron diferencias significativas en el tiempo de muerte de los hongos estudiados con respecto a los ensayos anteriores con solución sobresaturada de azúcar