Gingivitis and periodontitis are infectious diseases in that microorganisms are the primary extrinsic cause of the diseases. the occurrence of gingivitis has been associated clearly with the presence of microorganisms at the disease site, and the histologic nature of the tissue involved is indicative of an inflammatory response induced by microorganisms. additional evidence for the microbial etiology of periodontal disease is that numerous antimicrobial agents are effective in reducing plaque accumulation and periodontal diseases. the purpose of this article is to analyze the antimicrobial effects of Pulsatilla koreana .

Well-dried Pulsatilla koreana purchased from herbs distributor was ground and extracted into methanol(MeOH), ethylacetate(EtoAc), chlorform(CHCl₃) and Butyl alcohol(BuOH).

we have then applied each solution to the bacteria samples( Bacteroides forsythus , Streptococcus mutans , Streptococcus sanguis , Porphylomonas gingivalis , Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans , Eikenella corrodens , Prevotella intermedia , Actinomyces viscosus , Prevotella nigrescens , Rothia dentocariosa , Fusobacterium nucleatum , Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Staphylococcus aureus ) collected from several organizations.

To conduct susceptibility test(Kirby-Bauer method), plate contained each periodontopathic bacteria is spread extracted into methanol(MeOH), ethylacetate(EtoAc), chlorform(CHCl₃) and Butyl alcohol(BuOH) and to measure the minimum inhibition concentration(MIC) of the bacteria against the solutions to ultimately determine antimicrobial effects of the solutions, insert bacteria sample into 20µl/ml, 10/ml, 5µl/ml, 2.5µl/ml of each solution and control group(not contained solution).

1. Solution extracted into methanol did not show clear zone against all bacteria samples. Only P. nigrescens , S. mutans and S. sanguis in soluton extracted into ethylacetate, S. mutans and S. anguis in solutions extracted into chlorform and Butyl alcohol showed clear zone against all bacteria samples. Solution extracted into Butyl alcohol showed clear zone against 13 types of bacteria, excluding P. gingivalis .

2. In Solution extracted into methanol, the bacteria samples grew in the highest concentrated plate, showing minimal variation from control group.

3. In Solution extracted into Butyl alcohol, S. aureus , P. intermedia , E. corrodens , A. actinomycetemcomitans , B. forsythus , P. gingivalis et al. showed decreased growth in the highest concentrated plate. P. auruginosa , R. dentocariosa , A. viscosus , P. nigrescens , S. mutans et al. showed decreased growth at MIC 20µl/ml and S. sanguis showed decreased growth at MIC 10µl/ml.

4. By analyzing the MIC level through considering the results from Kirby-Bauer method, Solution extracted into methanol did not reveal any antimicrobial effects and Solution extracted into Butyl alcohol showed the highest antimicrobial effects.

In conclusion, it can be used the extracts of Pulsatilla koreana as wide spectrum antimicrobial agent.