title: The antimicrobial effects of seven different types of Asian chewing sticks.
abstract: There are various plants, which are used as chewing sticks in different parts of the world. Several studies have been reported on the antimicrobial effects of chewing sticks on oral bacteria. The aim of this study was to compare the antimicrobial effect of aqueous extract of seven different types of chewing sticks found in Pakistan and other Asian countries. The ditch plate method was used to test the antimicrobial activity of seven Asian chewing sticks. It was found that at there was antimicrobial effect on Streptococcus fecalis at 50% concentration of Kikar (Acacia arabica) from Pakistan and Arak (Salvadora persica) from Saudi Arabia. The inhibition zones up to 2 mm were found in those two chewing stick extracts. It is recommended that the chewing sticks will be a great help in developing countries with financial constraints and limited oral health care facilities for their populations.
authors.affiliation: Division of Peridontics, King Saud University-College of Dentistry, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Almas
mesh_terms: D000045:Acacia; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D006801:Humans; D019684:Magnoliopsida; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D029582:Meliaceae; D029592:Oleaceae; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000295:instrumentation*; D010154:Pakistan; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D018547:Plant Stems; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts