EVALUATION OF SOME SELECTED PLANT EXTRACTS AGAINST HALITOSIS CAUSING ORGANISMS

Fatai Abiola Lateef, Blessing Uloma Eze*,  Zacchariah Egbunu, Paul Jere and Danlandi Yusuf

Department of Science Laboratory Technology,

Federal Polytechnic P.M.B.1037, Idah, Kogi State, Nigeria.

e-mail: visituloma@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Halitosis or bad breath is an unpleasant or offensive odour of the mouth emanating from oral cavity present on exhaled breath. According to medical experts, this very embarrassing condition which can be acute or chronic could be caused by several factors including food, poor dental hygiene, tobacco products, health problems, dry mouth, infections, and medications. Halitosis is detrimental to one’s self-image and confidence causing social, emotional and psychological anxiety. Some food products (barley tea, green tea etc) and plant extracts (Eucalyptus, ginger, aloe vera and coconut) are claimed to be effective in controlling halitosis. To this notice, investigation of some selected plant extracts is conceived as an efficient way to control halitosis. This study was carried out to investigate the mixed extract of Eucalyptus globulus, ginger, aloe vera and coconut oil for the control of halitosis. Organolyptic measurements were used to check for the presence of halitosis. There were 24 volunteers from Science laboratory Technology Federal Polytechnic Idah, aged between 20 to 25 years old. The result of the first examiner before administration of the mouth wash showed that 3(12.5%) absence, moderate and strong malodour, 2(8.30%) had questionable malodour, 6(25.00%) had slight malodour,  and 7(29.16%) had severe malodour whereas the result after the administration of the mouth wash showed that 14(58.33%) had absence of malodour, 4(16.67) had questionable and slight malodour, 0(0.00%) had moderate and strong malodour and 2(8.30%) had strong malodour. The result of the second examiner before the administration of the mouth wash showed that 3(12.50%) had absence, questionable, moderate and strong malodour, 5(20.83%) had slight malodour and 7(29.16%) had severe malodour  whereas the result after the administration of the mouth wash showed that 14(58.33%) had absence of malodour, 2(8.30%) had questionable malodour, 5(20.83%) had slight malodour, 0(0.00%) had moderate, strong and severe malodour. The antimicrobial activity of the mixed extract against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeurginosa and Klebsiella pneumonia was determined and their zones of inhibitions were 16, 17, 14 and 13 mm respectively at 80ul. The mixed extract was active against the microorganism which are causative agent of halitosis in vitro. There was great reduction in the number of volunteers who had halitosis when the mixed extract was administered. So the mixed extract was effective against the microorganisms which cause halitosis in vivo. It was also able to give fresh breath and reduce oral malodour