Effect of Piper Betle Leaf Extract on Biofilm Formation and Antibacterial Activity on Oral Isolates

The objective of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial and anti-biofilm effects of Piper betle leaf extract on oral bacterial isolates. The leaf extract was obtained using Soxhlet extraction with acetone as the solvent. Oral bacteria were isolated using cheek swabs and cultured on MRS agar, Tryptone Soy agar, and EMB agar. Biofilm formation was assessed using crystal violet staining and quantified at 570 nm with a microtiter plate reader. The antibacterial activity of the extract was tested against oral isolates, Escherichia coli , and Staphylococcus aureus using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method, with acetone as a negative control. The results demonstrated significant antibacterial activity of Piper betle extract, with inhibition zones reaching up to 16.6 mm for oral isolates and 15.3 mm for S. aureus at a concentration of 200 µL/mL. Additionally, the extract inhibited biofilm formation, as demonstrated by the reduced optical density in biofilm assays. These findings suggest that Piper betle leaf extract holds promise as a natural alternative to synthetic antibiotics, particularly for managing oral bacteria and preventing biofilm-related infections. Further research is needed to isolate and identify the specific bioactive compounds responsible for the antibacterial effects and to evaluate the extract's potential in clinical applications.