Phytochemical Analysis, Antioxidant Activities, and Antibacterial Potential of Piper retrofractum Vahl Leaf Extract

Abstract

At present, oral health problems such as dental caries and periodontitis remain significant occurrences that affect the quality of life of populations across all age groups. Despite the widespread use of synthetic antimicrobial agents in dentistry, their side effects and the disruption of the normal flora balance have led to an interest in studying medicinal plants as new alternatives. This research, therefore, focuses on Piper retrofractum Vahl, a medicinal plant with therapeutic properties, particularly its leaves, which still have limited studies on their biological activities. The study analyzed phytochemical content, antioxidant activity, and the ability to inhibit the normal flora bacterium, Streptococcus salivarius. The results showed that the Long Pepper leaf extract contained a total phenolic content of 17.667±5.462 mgGAE/gDW and a total flavonoid content of 51.401±2.128 mgQE/gDW. It exhibited moderate antioxidant activity, with DPPH and ABTS scavenging percentages of 26.248±0.659 and 34.615±2.359, respectively. For the antibacterial activity test against the oral normal flora Streptococcus salivarius using the Disc Diffusion method, it was found that the extract had limited inhibitory activity, with an average inhibition zone diameter of 0.5 mm. The research findings suggest that Long Pepper leaf extract has the potential to be developed as an ingredient in oral care products due to its high flavonoid content and antimicrobial activity that does not excessively disrupt the balance of oral normal flora, which is beneficial for the sustainable maintenance of the oral ecosystem.