| Summary: | Streptococcus mutans possesses hydrophobicity properties playing a role in the accumulation of plaque which then develops to be dental caries. Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) has been well-known among Indonesian people and its antibacterial effect had been researched. The aim of the study was to find out the effect of sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) leaves extract on the hydrophobicity of Streptococcus mutans. Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) leaves were extracted by means of maceration using shaker 80 rpm and menstruum sterile distilled water. The extract of the sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) leaves was then diluted with sterile distilled water so that the concentrations became 10%, 15%, and 20%. The activity of the extract was tested to the hydrophobicity of Streptococcus mutans in Brain Heart Infusion (BHI) broth. Sterile distilled water and chlorhexidine gluconate 0.12% were used as negative control and positive control, respectively. The effect of the extract of the sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) leaves was tested by measuring hydrophobicity index of Streptococcus mutans to hexadecane by means of spectrophotometer with wavelength 550 nm. The result of measuring hydrophobicity index of Streptococcus mutans was then statistically analyzed with One Way Anova test. The result of One Way Anova test showed that there was significant effect of treatment group sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) leaves extract on the hydrophobicity of Streptococcus mutans (p < 0.05). There were significant differences between the mean of hydrophobicity indices of treatment groups of sterile distilled water, sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) leaves extract, and chlorhexidine gluconate 0.12% based on Post Hoc LSD test. The conclusion of the study was that the extract of sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) leaves can reduce the hydrophobicity of Streptococcus mutans.
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