Comparative Evaluation of The Effect of Rind and Pulp Extract of Citrullus Lanatus on Streptococcus Mutans

The present study aims to investigate and compare the effects of rind and pulp extracts of Citrullus lanatus on Streptococcus mutans in vitro . The pulp and rind extracts were prepared from fresh watermelon at four different concentrations of 25µl, 50µl, 100µl, and 150 µl, respectively. Four wells on each of the four MHA plates smeared with Streptococcus mutans were loaded with the prepared extracts such that two plates housed four different concentrations of each extract. They were incubated for 24 hours at 37° C. The zone of inhibition was later evaluated. The mean zone of inhibition observed around the wells loaded with 25µl, 50µl, 100µl, and 150 µl of pulp extract was 27mm, 28mm, 31mm, 36mm, and of rind extract were 26mm, 28mm, 31mm, 35mm respectively. There was a substantial rise in antibacterial activity as the concentration of the extract increased against the S. mutans bacteria for both extracts. However, there was no significant difference in the zone of inhibition of Citrullus lanatus rind and pulp extracts. It may be inferred from this investigation that the extract of Citrullus lanatus had substantial antibacterial activity against Streptococcus mutans. Plant alternative therapeutic approaches, instead of conventional methods, are sought after for their accessibility, lower side effects, and affordability. Hence researchers are exploring different herbal and plant-based substrates, such as Citrullus lanatus, as an alternate method for reinforcing oral hygiene with significant antimicrobial activity