Synthesis of soursop (Annona muricata) leaf based simplicia as natural mouthwash to resolve mouth infection

This research aimed to identify the potential of soursop leaves simplicia as a mouthwash to hinder mouth infection caused by Streptococcus mutans bacteria. This study used a quasi-experimental laboratory with a post-test group design. The research sample was soursop leaves simplicia with the particle size of 1.36 μm produced by high energy ball milling (HEM) technique and extracted into 20 μm of soursop leave infusion. The soursop simplicia and infusion tests were carried out using 21 sterile tubes, consisting of 15 tubes as an antibacterial test with a concentration of 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, and 100%. Three positive control tubes containing 0.2% of Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHX) and three negative control tubes of sterile aquadest were maintained. The bacterial isolates of Streptococcus mutans were gram stain identification, catalase, oxidase, and optochin susceptibility tests. The average colony number of Streptococcus mutans identified on 60% soursop leaves infusion is 681.7 and gets lower by 120.3 for 100% concentration. Meanwhile, its average colony number on 60% soursop leaves simplicia is 575.0 and reduces by 31.3 for 100% concentration. There is a substantial difference among 100% concentration soursop leaves infusion with CHX (p = 0.005), while there is no significant difference among 100% soursop leaves simplicia with CHX (p = 0.249). Therefore, a 100% concentration of soursop leaves simplicia can obstruct mouth infection and have the potential for mouthwash since it has no meaningful difference with CHX.