Garlic, its Role in Oral Health-A Review

 

Sripradha S.¹*, Karthikeyan Murthykumar², Subasree Soundarajan¹, Niha Naveed¹

 

ABSTRACT:

The use of plant products to improve dental health and to promote oral hygiene is in exist long since. Lack of oral hygiene result in accumulation of plaque and calculus, which is the major etiology factors for gingivitis and periodontitis. Undoubtedly, the natural products are the source for most of the pharmaceuticals. Arrange of treatment modalities are available for the treatment of different oral diseases. The frequent use and misuse of currently available therapeutic agents has led to the evolution of increased incidence of adverse effects and development of resistant strains. Hence the search for alternative option continues. Allium sativum, commonly known as garlic, is a species in the onion genus, Allium. Its family is Lilliceae. Epidemiologically, garlic consumption inversely correlates with the risk of oral, stomach, esophageal, colon, and prostate cancers. It increases phagocytosis which increases the white blood cells to fight off infection. The active compounds present in garlic are Sulfoxides, gama-glutamylcysteines. It plays a major role in the prevention of Heinz body anemia, gastric ulcers uterine stimulant, and  prolong bleeding time. Garlic has a broad anti-microbial spectrum, and anti-parasitic properties. This review article describes about the garlic’s effect on oral health.

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

Garlic, as it is regarded as Vellai Poondu in Tamil, Lassun in Hindi, Veluthulli in Malayalam, I’ail in French, Knoblauch in German, Aglio in Italian, Ajo in Spanish helps in the reduction of total cholesterol, and the aggregations of platelets [1]. Oxidative stress play a major role in arthritis, atherosclerosis, heart disease, stroke, AIDS, cancer, aging, and in programmed cell death (apoptosis) of neurons, that leads to Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative conditions[2-6]. Garlic is native to central Asia [7] and has long been a staple in the Mediterranean region, as well as a frequent seasoning in Asia, Africa, and Europe. It was known to Ancient Egyptians, and has been used for both culinary and medicinal purposes[8]. Allium sativum grows in the wild in areas where it has become naturalized.

 

The "wild garlic", "crow garlic", and "field garlic" of Britain are members of the species Allium ursinum, Allium vineale, and Allium oleraceum, respectively. In North America, Allium vineale (known as "wild garlic" or "crow garlic") and Allium canadense, known as "meadow garlic" or "wild garlic" and "wild onion", are common weeds in fields [9].

 

Botanical name of garlic is Allium sativum, its family is Lilliceae,

Chemical constituents of garlic

The health benefits of garlic extracts could be attributed to phytochemicals, which are produced during the extraction process, such as S-allylcysteine, S-allylmercaptocysteine, N-alfa-fructosyl arginine. Aged garlic extract has antioxidant properties whereas raw garlic acts as oxidant.The main phytochemicals in garlic are alliin, methiin and S-allylcysteine. When garlic is damaged or crushed the sulphur components are transformed in different organosulfur compounds. Enzymes in garlic will convert alliin into allicin, which has antimicrobial action[10].

 

Role of Garlic in dental plaque:

Dental plaque is the major cause of dental caries and various other periodontal diseases. Plaque is a habitat for different microorganisms and bacteria [11].Plaque removal is the primary step necessary for the prevention or treatment of dental caries and periodontal diseases, but effective treatment should also be made to ensure reduction of plaque bacteria [12].The mechanical processes alone is not efficient in the removal of the plaque and therefore certain chemical agents are required for a efficient outcome. For this generally antibiotics, must be used in the treatment process [13].However, antibiotics often have undesirable side effects.

 

The sulphur compounds are known to have an inhibitory effect on Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) harbored in the dental plaque, whose acidogenicity leads to demineralization of the teeth and Dental caries [14]. Thus the extracts of garlic may be used to break the chain of caries aetiology, by affecting the host factors and the microbial flora.In vitro studies have revealed the inhibitory effects of garlic extract on periodontopathic and carcinogenic bacteria [15].

 

Role of garlic in maintaining the pH of saliva:

Garlic extracts stimulate the flow of saliva and facilitates the clearance of various substrates from the mouth [16]. It reduces the MS counts, their acid production and prevents the demineralization of tooth structure [17].

 

Garlic as an antibiotic:

Undesirable effects of antibiotics on their consumption include molecular changes in organisms, which might result in increased virulence, and development of drug hypersensitivity [18,19]. The side effects of antibiotics, and particularly the increasing problem of antibiotic resistance, emphasizes the need for alternative solutions. Garlic, is one of proposed alternatives to antibiotics, with antibacterial effects against a wide range of bacteria, including Escherichia, Lactobacilli, Helicobacter pylori, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumonia, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis [20-25]. Streptococcus mutans are responsive to garlic extract, with the minimum inhibition concentration ranging from 4 to 32 μg/ml [26]. Combination of garlic with lime is reported to have a pronounced antibacterial effect against isolates from caries teeth. [27].

 

Garlic as an antimicrobial agent and a fungicidal agent:

Garlic extract possess a good antimicrobial activity against human oral microorganism. It is suggested that mouthwash containing 10% garlic extract helps in the significant reduction of the level of oral bacteria [28].Groppo et al. [29] have observed a remarkable reduction of mutans streptococci after gargling the mouth with a 2.5% garlic mouthwash solution.Another study, reported a reduction in levels of total salivary bacterial count and the streptococcal mutans count after garlic mouthwash. It was mentioned that a 3% concentration was the minimum concentration at which a zone of inhibition was observed[30].This antimicrobial action could be applied in the prevention of dental caries.Garlic is reported to be an effective fungicidal agent too against Candida albicans, a fungus that is usually present in the oral cavity [31]. Ledezma 24 et al demonstrated that ajoene , an active compound in garlic may play a role as a topical fungal agent [32].

 

These pharmacological properties of garlic have been attributed to the presence of allicin and thiosulphonates [33,34].

 

CONCLUSION:

The therapeutic properties of garlic have been known to mankind for ages. Garlic and its compounds have been found to attack multiple targets, which provide the basis for their effectiveness in many different diseases. Using optimum concentrations of garlic extract in toothpastes or mouth washes can be useful in the management of dental caries and periodontitis. The use of garlic incorporated combination mouthwashes or water rinsing may be a step forward in prevention of fall of salivary pH, thereby rendering more resistance against development of new carious lesions. The characteristic flavour is significant as it induces salivation and salivary clearance. Water rinse effectively prevents significant pH drops after carbohydrate consumption and thus is a simple and effective measure in preventing demineralisation and caries. Extract of garlic have the ability to inhibit the growth of a range of oral species and to inhibit the trypsin-like and total protease activity Porphyromonas gingivalis. Garlic extract inhibits the growth of oral pathogens and certain proteases and have therapeutic value, particularly for periodontitis. Garlic is used to treat cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis, strokes, hypertension, thrombosis and hyperlipidemias, as well as uses in Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and cancer.

 

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Received on 13.02.2014          Modified on 05.03.2014

Accepted on 10.03.2014         © RJPT All right reserved