Sains Malaysiana 54(5)(2025): 1239-1251

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2025-5405-04

Anticariogenic Potential of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum-Isolated Kimchi in suppression of Streptococcus mutans’ Growth

(Potensi Antikariogenik Kimchi Pencilan Lactiplantibacillus plantarum dalam Merencat Pertumbuhan Streptococcus mutans)

MALATHI GANESON¹, ZALEHA SHAFIEI^1,*, NORAZIAH MOHAMAD ZIN², MOHD NIZAM LANI³, ZAMIRAH ZAINAL ABIDIN¹ & MAZLINA MOHD SAID⁴

¹Department of Craniofacial Diagnostics and Biosciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

²Centre of Diagnostics and Applied Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

³Faculty of Fisheries and Food Science, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia

⁴Centre for Entrepreneurship and SMEs Development (UKM-CESMED), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Received: 22 April 2024/Accepted: 25 February 2025

Abstract

Kimchi, a lactic acid-fermented vegetable product, is widely recognised for its popularity and health benefits. It contains antimicrobial microorganisms. This study aimed to isolate, characterise, and test antimicrobial activity of kimchi isolates against Streptococcus mutans.  Kimchi samples were mixed in MRS broth (1:10 w/v) and incubated overnight at 37 °C. Then, serially diluted 10-folds and spread onto MRS agar to isolate lactic acid bacteria (LAB). Gram staining, catalase, and oxidase tests were performed, followed by API 50 CHL and 16S rRNA sequencing analysis to identify the most potent strain. Four selected strains, K1, K2, K3, and K4 were identified and determined for their antibacterial activity against S. mutans using agar spot and agar well diffusion methods. Strain K2 with the diameter of the inhibition zone (33.50 ± 5.47 mm), and strain K3 (33.50 ± 3.62 mm) are the strains with the most potential to inhibit S. mutans. However, the cell-free supernatant of strain K2 (9.92 ± 0.58 mm) exhibited higher inhibitory activity than strain K3. Therefore, strain K2 was selected as the most potential strain, identified as Lactobacillus (currently known as Lactiplantibacillus) plantarum 1 in the API web database and confirmed by 16S rDNA gene sequencing as Lactiplantibacillus plantarum strain AMT744129 with 99.3% similarity. Thus, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum strain K2-isolated kimchi has a cariogenic effect and could be potential as an alternative agent in treating dental caries.

Keywords: Antibacterial; API 50 CHL kit; Lactiplantibacillus plantarum; Streptococcus mutans; 16S rDNA gene sequencing

Abstrak

Kimchi, produk sayuran yang ditapai asid laktik, diiktiraf secara meluas untuk populariti dan manfaat kesihatannya. Ia mengandungi mikroorganisma antimikrob. Penyelidikan ini bertujuan untuk mengasing, menciri dan menguji aktiviti antimikrob pencilan kimchi terhadap Streptococcus mutans. Sampel kimchi dicampur dalam kaldu MRS (1:10 w/v) dan diinkubasi semalaman pada suhu 37 °C. Kemudian, dicairkan secara bersiri 10 kali ganda dan disebarkan ke atas agar MRS untuk pengasingan bakteria asid laktik (LAB). Ujian pewarnaan Gram, katalase dan oksidase telah dilakukan, diikuti API 50 CHL dan analisis penjujukan 16S rRNA untuk mengenal pasti strain yang paling berpotensi. Empat strain terpilih, K1, K2, K3 dan K4 telah dikenal pasti dan ditentukan aktiviti antibakterianya terhadap S. mutans menggunakan kaedah spot agar dan resapan telaga agar. Strain K2 dengan diameter zon perencatan (33.50 ± 5.47 mm) dan strain K3 (33.50 ± 3.62 mm) merupakan strain paling berpotensi merencat S. mutans. Namun, supernatan tanpa-sel bagi strain K2 (9.92 ± 0.58 mm) menunjukkan aktiviti perencatan yang lebih tinggi daripada strain K3. Oleh itu, strain K2 telah dipilih sebagai strain yang paling berpotensi, dikenal pasti sebagai Lactobacillus (terkini dikenali sebagai Lactiplantibacillus) plantarum 1 dalam pangkalan data web API dan disahkan dengan penjujukan gen 16S rDNA sebagai strain Lactiplantibacillus plantarum AMT744129 dengan 99.3% persamaan. Justeru, strain Lactiplantibacillus plantarum K2-pencilan kimchi mempunyai kesan kariogenik dan berpotensi digunakan sebagai agen alternatif dalam merawat karies gigi.

Kata kunci: Antibakteria; API 50 CHL kit; Lactiplantibacillus plantarum; penjujukan gen 16S rDNA; Streptococcus mutans

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*Corresponding author; email: zalehashafiei@ukm.edu.my