title: Enhancement of oral moisture using tablets containing extract of Capparis masaikai Levl.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Dentistry, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima 890-8544, Japan.
authors.forename: Katsuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kitada
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shibuya
authors.forename: Masao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ishikawa
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakasugi
authors.forename: Takahiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oho
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D013607:Tablets