Studies on dental caries prevention by traditional medicines. X Antibacterial action of phenolic components from mace against Streptococcus mutans.

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Abstract
The methanolic extract of the aril of Myristica fragrans Houtt. (mace) had anti-plaque action against a cariogenic bacterium, Streptococcus mutans. Through fractionation of the extract followed by microbial assay by using the tube dilution technique, dehydrodiisoeugenol (1) and 5''-methoxydehydrodiisoeugenol (2) were identified as the major antibacterial principles. Both compounds completely inhibited the bacterial growth at a concentration of 12.5 .mu.g/ml. During this experiment, threo-2-(4-allyl-2,6-dimethoxyphenoxy)-1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)propan-1-ol methyl ether (6) and guaiacin (8) were isolated for the first time from mace.