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http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/1910
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| Title: | Chewing-stick practices using plants with anti-streptococcal activity in a Ugandan rural community |
| Authors: | Odongo, Charles Okot
Musisi, Nathan Lubowa
Waako, Paul
Obua, Celestino |
| Keywords: | Chewing-sticks
Rhus vulgaris
Lantana trifolia
Aqueous extract
Socio-cultural practices,
Uganda
Dental disease
Traditional toothbrushes |
| Issue Date: | 2011 |
| Citation: | Odongo, C.S., Musisi, N.L., Waako, P., Obua, C. (2011). Chewing-stick practices using plants with anti-streptococcal activity in a Ugandan rural community. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2(13) |
| Abstract: | Background: The high dental disease burden in developing countries has created a need to
explore and develop cheap and accessible methods of dental disease prevention. Traditional toothbrushes (chewing-sticks) prepared from specific plants have been used for dental hygiene for
generations. When properly used, chewing-sticks may be as effective as synthetic toothbrushes.
This study set out to describe traditional chewing-stick practices in a Ugandan rural community,
and evaluate the antibacterial activity of two most commonly used plants. Methods: Interviews
were done to identify chewing-stick plants and obtain socio-cultural information relating to the
practice in two villages in rural Uganda. Field walks were done to pick and voucher the plants,
for taxonomical identification and storage. For the two most reported plants, aqueous extracts
were prepared and tested for antibacterial activity against Streptococcus mutans using the
agar-well diffusion method. Results: Of the 21 key informants interviewed, all were using
or had used chewing-sticks in the past. A total of eight plants were identified as sources of
chewing-sticks, with Rhus vulgaris and Lantana trifolia most commonly mentioned. Chewingsticks
were preferred over synthetic tooth brushes because they were less likely to traumatize
the gums. Their use has been limited of recent due to scarcity of some plants. R. vulgaris and
L. trifolia aqueous extracts showed antibacterial activity against S. mutans with mean diameters
of inhibition of 24.33 ± 0.58 and 14.17 ± 0.29 mm on Blood agar respectively, compared to
benzyl penicillin control 30.67 ± 0.29 mm. Conclusion: R. vulgaris and L. trifolia are the most
common sources of chewing-sticks for cleaning teeth in this community. The plants contain
compounds that are active against S. mutans. These plants merit further studies as they are
possible sources of cheap dental health care for the rural poor. |
| URI: | doi: 10.3389/fphar.2011.00013
http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/1910 |
| Appears in Collections: | Research Articles (Health-Sciences)
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| odongo-chs-res.pdf | | 317Kb | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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