Potential of Uncaria Gambir Extract Against Glucosyltransferase Enzyme: A Narrative Review

Authors

  • Siti Rusdiana Puspa Dewi Department of Biomedical Science, Dentistry Study Programme, Medical Faculty, Universitas Sriwijaya, Inderalaya, Sumatera Selatan
  • Zata Yumni Nabiilah Student of Dentistry Study Programme, Medical Faculty, Universitas Sriwijaya, Inderalaya, Sumatera Selatan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46862/interdental.v22i1.10706

Keywords:

enzyme, gambier, glucosyltransferase, Uncaria gambir

Abstract

Introduction: Glucosyltransferase (Gtf) enzyme is an enzyme produced by Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) bacteria that plays an important role in the process of attachment and virulence of bacterial colonies on the tooth surface. Gambier plants (Uncaria gambir (Roxb.)) have the main content of catechins and tannins that can prevent the formation of extracellular glucans that bind S. mutans bacteria on the tooth surface. The purpose of this narrative review is to determine the potential of gambir extract on Gtf enzymes produced by S. mutans. This article is a narrative review, with databases sourced from PubMed, Wiley Online Library, Cochrane, and Science Direct.

Review: A total of 251 articles were identified, and 6 journals were filtered that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria for analysis. Catechins and tannins contained in gambir have inhibitory action against Gtfs, so that the activity of EPS synthesis by S. mutans is blocked. Inhibition of Gtf by catechins does not interfere with the existence of microbes in the oral environment. Therefore, the ability of catechins extracted from gambir plants is able to inhibit the Gtf enzyme selectively, and is developed as a material that can prevent the formation of dental caries.

Conclusion: Gambier extract has the potential to inhibit the formation of Gtf enzymes.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Kusmana C, Hikmat A. The Biodiversity of Flora in Indonesia. J Nat Resour Environ Manag. 2015;5(2):187–98

Yassir M, Asnah A. Pemanfaatan Jenis Tumbuhan Obat Tradisional Di Desa Batu Hamparan Kabupaten Aceh Tenggara. Biot J Ilm Biol Teknol dan Kependidikan. 2019;6(1):17–34.

Dewi SRP, Irfannuddin. Bioinformatics analysis and biomolecular characterization of salivary alpha amylase as risk factor for dental caries. Makassae Dental Journal 2024; 13(2); 196-201.

Endriani R, Siregar FM, Rafni E, Azhari RK, Jefrizal J. Identifikasi Gen Kariogenik Glukosiltransferase Streptococcus mutans pada Pasien Karies Gigi Identification of Streptococcus mutans Cariogenic Gene Glucosyltransferase (Gtf) in Dental Caries Patients. J Kedokt Gigi Univ Padjadjaran. 2021;33(1):14–8

Ambarawati IGAD, Sukrama IDM, Yasa IWPS. Deteksi Gen Gtf-B Streptococcus mutans dalam Plak Dengan Gigi Karies Pada Siswa SD N 29 Dangin Puri. Intisari Sains Medis. 2020;11(3):1049–55.

Gayatri RW. Hubungan Tingkat Pengetahuan Dengan Perilaku Pemeliharaan Kesehatan Gigi Anak SDN Kauman 2 Malang. J Heal Educ. 2017;2(2):57–60.

Susilowati A, Sumarawati T. Kajian Lama Kumur Air Rebusan Gambir (Uncaria gambir) terhadap Pembentukan Plak Gigi. Sains Med. 2012;4(1):57–62

Dewi SRP, Kamaluddin MT, Theodorus, Pambayun R. Anticariogenic Effect of Gambir (Uncaria Gambir [Roxb.]) Extract on Enamel Tooth Surface Exposed by Streptococcus mutans. Int J Heal Sci Res. 2016;6(8):171.

Apriliana AL, Kusnanda Nurisma A, Ryan Maulana M, Fatimah Azzahra S. Potensi katekin daun gambir (Uncaria gambier roxb.) sebagai agen pembekuan darah pasca ekstraksi gigi. J Kedokt Gigi Univ Padjadjaran. 2022;34(3):194–201

Mohd Azmi F, Nagarajan MP Sockalingam S, Mohd Said M, Shuhud Irfani Zakaria A. Clinical Applications of Catechin in Dentistry : A Review. JNR. 2020;20(1):2-15.

Kong C, Zhang H, Li L, Liu Z. Effects of green tea extract epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on oral disease-associated microbes: a review. Journal of oral microbiology. 2022;14(1): 2131117.

Vilela MM, Salvador SL, Teixeira IGL, Del Arco MCG, De Rossi A. Efficacy of green tea and its extract, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, in the reduction of cariogenic microbiota in children: a randomized clinical trial. Archives of oral biology. 2020;114:104727.

Yauri L, Mirawati E. Efektivitas Berkumur Dengan Air Rebusan Gambir Terhadap Perubahan Indeks Plak Pada Mahasiswa Keperawatan Gigi Politeknik Kesehatan Kemenkes Makassar. Media kesehatan Gigi 2020; 19(1): 8-11

Hoshino T, Fujiwara T. The Findings Of Glucosyltransferase Enzymes Derived From Oral Streptococci. Jpn Dent Sci Rev. 2022;58:328-35.

Dewi SRP, Pratiwi A, Theodorus. The Effect of Gambier Extracts (Uncaria Gambir [Roxb.]) As Antiseptic on Gingival Wound in Rats. Odonto Dent J. 2018;5(1):80–8.

Dharsono HDA, Wibisono L, Hayati AT, Apriyanti E, Satari MH, Kurnia D. Mode action prediction of catechin from Uncaria gambir Roxb. against UDP-N-acetylenolpyruvyl-glucosamine reductase (MurB enzyme) of Streptococcus mutans: In silico study. J Adv Pharm Technol Res. 2022;13(3):197–201

Wicaksono DP, Dewi AM, Siti ALA, Nuraini P, Han S. The effect of epigallocatechin gallate on Streptococcus gordonii biofilm formation. Dent. J. 2024;57(4):254-8.

Dewi SRP, Marlamsya DO, Bikarindrasari R. Efek Antikaries Ekstrak Gambir pada Tikus Jantan Galur Wistar. Maj Kedokt Gigi Indones. 2017;3(2):83.

Dewi SRP, Rindit P, Santoso B, Bikarindrasari R. Pengaruh Permen Mengandung Gambir (Uncaria Gambir (Roxb.)) terhadap Penurunan Koloni Bakteri dan Pembentukan Plak Gigi. J Kesehatatan Poltekkes Palembang 2023;18(1):111–9.

Ham SY, Kim HS, Cha E, Lim T, Byun Y, Park HD. Raffinose Inhibits Streptococcus mutans Biofilm Formation by Targeting Glucosyltransferase. Microbiol Spectr. 2022;10(3):e0207621.

Zhang Q, Ma Q, Wang Y. Molecular mechanism in inhibiting glukosiltransferase on biofilm formation of Streptococcus mutans . Int J Oral Sci. 2021;13:30-9.

Herdiana I, Aji N. Fraksinasi Ekstrak Daun Sirih dan Ekstrak Gambir serta Uji Antibakteri Streptococcus mutans. J Ilm Kesehat. 2020;19(3):52–60

Downloads

Published

2026-04-30

How to Cite

1.
Dewi SRP, Nabiilah ZY. Potential of Uncaria Gambir Extract Against Glucosyltransferase Enzyme: A Narrative Review. interdental [Internet]. 2026 Apr. 30 [cited 2026 May 1];22(1):141-6. Available from: https://e-journal.unmas.ac.id/index.php/interdental/article/view/10706

Issue

Vol. 22 No. 1 (2026): Interdental Jurnal Kedokteran Gigi (IJKG)

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Siti Rusdiana Puspa Dewi, Zata Yumni Nabiilah

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

  • Every manuscript submitted to must observe the policy and terms set by the Interdental Jurnal Kedokteran Gigi (IJKG)
  • Publication rights to manuscript content published by the Interdental Jurnal Kedokteran Gigi (IJKG) is owned by the journal with the consent and approval of the author(s) concerned.
  • Full texts of electronically published manuscripts can be accessed free of charge and used according to the license shown below.