4,5 Although dental disease is only slowly progressive, oral bacteria can also cause infections of the head and neck, such as periapical abscesses and infections of the jaw bones and fascia.6 Therefore, the control of oral bacteria is key to the prevention and treatment of these oral diseases. Various antibiotics, including ampicillin, chlorhexidine,
erythromycin, spiramycin, and vancomycin, have been very effective at preventing dental caries, but these agents can cause unexpected side effects such as microorganism resistance, vomiting, and diarrhea.7,8 Furthermore, the use of antibiotics can promote the development of multidrugresistant (MDR) strains of bacteria.9 These problems have led to a search for new antibacterial substances that are safe for humans and specific for oral pathogens. Various sources such as microorganisms, animals, and plants,10 have been examined for components with these properties