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
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