Dental caries is the destruction of the enamel of teeth by Streptoccus mutans. S. mutans has been isolated from human dental plaque and is associated with the initial development of enamel lesions. We have studied the antibacterial action of the fruit of Callistemon citrin us against a cariogenic bacterium, S. mutans. From the fruit of C. citrinus, piceatannol (3,3',4',5-tetrahydroxystilbene) was isolated by repeated column chromatography with SiO2 and Sephadex LH-20. Its structure was elucidated by instrumental analysis using 1D-NMR, 2D-NMR and EI-MS. This compound was isolated from the fruit of C. citrin us for the first time. The anticarcinogenic activity of this compound was determined by using agar well-diffusion method and minimal inhibition concentration (MIC).

• Moon-Ho Lee
• Young-Ki Park