Enhancement of oral moisture using tablets containing extract of Capparis masaikai Levl.
OBJECTIVE
This study was performed to examine the effects of tablets containing an extract of Capparis masaikai Levl. (M-tablets) on enhancing oral moisture.


METHODS
The moistening effect of M-tablets was examined in 21 healthy subjects aged 25.1+/-2.4 (mean+/-S.D.) years in comparison with control tablets. After sucking tablets, the oral moisture was measured using a saliva wetness tester and a moisture checker. To evaluate the effects of the M-tablets on oral conditions, additional 50 subjects aged 30.6+/-7.5 years were examined. The subjects recorded changes in refreshment, oral moisture, ease in speaking, and taste of water using a visual analog scale (VAS).


RESULTS
The L-SALIVO value of the M-tablet increased significantly from 1.83+/-0.17 (mean+/-S.E.M.) at baseline to 3.02+/-0.21 at 15 min (P<0.01). The Mucus((R)) value of the M-tablet also increased from 37.50+/-0.22 at baseline to 38.30+/-0.26 at 15 min (P<0.01). The VAS value for oral moisture increased significantly from 47.4+/-2.0 to 69.6+/-2.2 after taking the M-tablet (P<0.01). The VAS value for taste of water also increased from 50.0+/-1.1 to 66.7+/-3.2 (P<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that M-tablets are useful for enhancing oral moisture, which leads to improvement of oral conditions.
Kitada
Katsuhiro
K
Department of Preventive Dentistry, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima 890-8544, Japan.
Shibuya
Koji
K
Ishikawa
Masao
M
Nakasugi
Toru
T
Oho
Takahiko
T
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D031484:Capparis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism*; D013607:Tablets; D014059:Tongue / Q000187:drug effects; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D055815:Young Adult
D010936:Plant Extracts; D013607:Tablets