INTRODUCTION:

Oral problems are major health issues concerning today’s generation. It has no age or gender barrier and equally affects all-old, young, males, females, etc. Commonest oral diseases are dental caries, periodontitis and oral candidiasis. Dental caries, also known as tooth decay, cavities, or caries, is a breakdown of teeth due to activities of bacteria.

Periodontitis, also known as pyorrhea, is a set of inflammatory diseases affecting the periodontium, i.e., the tissues that surround and support the teeth¹. Oral candidiasis or oral thrush is a mycosis (yeast/fungal infection) of Candida species on the mucous membranes of the mouth. Oral diseases tend to affect our daily life and may lead to chronic diseases or severe complications if neglected.

Dental problems are caused mainly by microbes^2,3. Of more than 750 species of bacteria that inhabit the oral cavity, a number are implicated in oral diseases⁴. The most common bacteria associated with dental cavities are the mutans streptococci, most prominently Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus, and lactobacilli, periodontitis- Actinobacillus actinomycetem comitans and Porphyromonas gingivalis and oral candidiasis by Candida albicans.

Several factors like infections where allopathic medications have no or minimal actions which may be due to the increased resistance exhibited by the pathogens to particular allopathic medications, adverse-affects of some antibacterial agents currently used in dentistry like nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, headache, staining of teeth, etc, (these drugs can also alter the oral microbiota and bring about more complications) and financial considerations in developing countries creates a need for alternative prevention and treatment options that are not only safe and effective but should also be economical⁵.

Hence, the search for alternative products continues and herbs and spices that were used as traditional medicines in the ancient times are considered as good alternatives. Traditional systems of medicines like Ayurveda employ the use of spices and herbs to treat various diseases⁶. Therefore, this review focuses on the role of various herbs and spices in the treatment of many dental problems.

Role of Spices in Controlling Dental Problems:

Though there are various spices being used to treat dental problems, in this article the following main spices are being discussed:

1. Cloves

2. Cinnamon

3. Coriander Seeds

4. Turmeric

5. Cardamom

1. CLOVES:

Biological Name:

Syzygium aromaticum⁷.

Introduction:

Cloves are staple among Indian households. They are used to treat a multitude of common ailments including headaches and asthma^8,9. More than using clove as such, oil extracted from clove is more commonly used for dental purposes. Oil of clove is also known as clove oil. It is an essential oil which is extracted from the plant named Syzygium aromaticum⁸.

Composition:

Composition of clove oil includes phenylpropanoids eugenol, eugenyl acetate, carvacrol, thymol, cinnamaldehyde, β-caryophyllene and 2-heptanone¹⁰.

Properties and Uses:

The antioxidant property of clove oil is due to its very strong radical scavenging activity. The antifungal property is because of eugenol which lowers the quantity of ergosterol, which is a specific component of fungal cell membrane. It also exhibits antibacterial action, especially against Staphylococcus species¹⁰.

It’s used to reduce gum swelling, to improve health of gums and to remineralize teeth. It also reduces the bacteria causing gum disease and creates a balanced oral biome¹¹.Clove oil is used in many dental restorative materials as well as in many allopathic medicines.

SPICE	MOST EFFECTIVE AGAINST^2,12,13
CLOVES	Streptococcus mutans
	Candida albicans
	Porphyromonas gingivalis
	Prevetollaintermedia

2. Cinnamon:

Biological Name:

Cinnamomum verum¹⁴.

Introduction:

Cinnamon is obtained from the evergreen cinnamon plant. The bark or powder is commonly used as spice to flavour foods like cloves¹⁵.

Composition:

Cinnamon oil is mainly composed of trans-cinnamaldehyde, eugenol and linalool¹⁰.

Properties and Uses:

Its antioxidant properties are due to its ability to scavenge free radicals. It also exhibits antimicrobial action against gram-positive like Staphylococcus species, streptococcus species, etc, gram-negative bacteria like Enterococcus species, Fusobacterium species, etc and fungi like Candida species, etc¹⁰.

This oil is used to prevent tooth decay, gum disease and reduces bad odour¹⁶.

SPICE	MOST EFFECTIVE AGAINST^2,17
CINNAMON	Streptococcus mutans

3. CORIANDER SEEDS:

Biological Name:

Coriandrum sativum¹⁸.

Introduction:

Coriander seed is considered one of the earliest spices in the world. Its commonly known as Cilantro or Dhania, is a powerful herb with many health benefits^18-19.

Composition:

This plant contains many micronutrients and nutritional elements. It also contains dietary fibre, vitamins and minerals like calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium¹⁹.

Properties and Uses:

The anticariogenic property of coriander seeds is brought about as follows: coriander seeds will increase the pH of the saliva which in turn will counteract the effect of the acids produced by the bacteria and thus, neutralizes them¹⁹.

It prevents tooth decay, heals mouth ulcers and infections^{15, 19}.

SPICE	MOST EFFECTIVE AGAINST (20)
CORRIANDER SEEDS	Bacillus cereus

4. TURMERIC:

Biological Name:

Curcuma longa²¹.

Introduction:

It is well-known fact that turmeric acts as a potent antiseptic and anti-inflammatory agent⁸.

Composition:

Main components of turmeric include diarylheptanoids, which occur from curcuminoids like curcumin, demethoxycurcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin²².

Properties and Uses:

Turmeric’s anti-inflammatory property is due to its ability to inhibit both biosynthesis of inflammatory prostaglandin sand neutrophil function during inflammation²³.

It is used to relieve toothache, to strengthen gums and teeth and also to prevent oral infections^{13, 20-22}.

SPICE	MOST EFFECTIVE AGAINST^2,24,25
TURMERIC	Streptococcus mutans
TURMERIC	Enterococcus fecalis

5. CARDAMOM:

Biological Name:

Eletteria cardamom^2,26.

Introduction:

It is a commonly used spice which is known for both its culinary and medicinal properties^{2, 26}.

Composition:

α-terpineol 45%, myrcene 27%, limonene 8%, menthone 6%, β-phellandrene 3%, 1,8-cineol 2%, sabinene 2% and heptane 2%²⁶.

Properties and Uses:

It has antiseptic and anti-microbial properties which makes it effective against oral pathogens.

It is used to treat halitosis and infections of teeth and gums such as dental caries, oral candidiasis, etc².

SPICE	MOST EFFECTIVE AGAINST^2,27,28
CARDOMOM	Streptococcus mutans
	Propionibacterium acnes
	Pityriosporum ovale
	Trichophytonmenta grophytes

Role of Herbs in Controlling Dental Problems:

Though there are various herbs being used to treat dental problems, in this article the following main herbs are being discussed:-

1. GREEN TEA

2. NEEM

3. SAGE

4. THYME

5. PEPPERMINT LEAF

1. GREEN TEA:

Biological Name:

Camellia sinensis²⁹.

Introduction:

Green tea, a plant with numerous benefits. It is made from Camellia sinensis leaves.

Composition:

Its usually rich in the flavanol group of polyphenols known as catechins. Other polyphenols include flavanols and their glycosides, and depsides³⁰.

Properties and Uses:

Catechins prevent the attachment of pathogenic microbes over the surfaces of teeth, hence, attributing to anti cariogenic activity. Also they protect the cells against the damaging effects of peroxyl and hydroxyl radicals. Hence acts as an anti-oxidant³¹.

Green tea is used to prevent abrasion of dentin, it prevents dental caries, gum diseases and also prevents halitosis^30-34.

HERBS	MOST EFFECTIVE AGAINST (35)
GREEN TEA	Streptococcus mutans

2. NEEM:

Biological Name:

Azadirachta indica³⁶.

Introduction:

It is a wonder herb with many medicinal values.

Composition:

It consists of azadirachtin, nimbolinin, nimbin, nimbidin, nimbidol, sodium nimbinate, gedunin, salannin and quercetin³⁷.

Properties and Uses:

Its antimicrobial action is due to its ability to breakdown the bacterial cell wall and therefore causing its death. Also it scavenges free radicals due to which it is a rich source of antioxidant^37-39. Hence, it is used to prevent dental caries and oral infections^{37, 39-44}.

HERB	MOST EFFECTIVE AGAINST⁴⁵
NEEM	Streptococcus mutans

3. SAGE:

Biological Name:

Salvia officinalis⁴⁶.

Introduction:

Also known as Salvia. It is a medicinal herb.

Composition:

The chemical composition of sage includes flavonoids, terpenoidsand essential oils⁴⁷.

Properties and Uses:

These essential oils inhibit microorganisms by various mechanisms, mainly hydrophobicity. They penetrate into the lipid bi layer of the bacterial cell membrane, makesit more permeable, causes the leakage of bacterial cell contents of vital cell contents. Hence, attributing to its antibacterial property. Also shows antiviral and antifungal properties⁴⁸.

It is used to preventgum disease, cavities, plaque and also to reduce halitosis^48,49.

HERB	MOST EFFECTIVE AGAINST (50)
SAGE	Streptococcus mutans
SAGE	Lactobacillus

4. THYME:

Biological Name:

Thymus vulgaris^50,51

Introduction:

It is an aromatic herb with many culinary and medicinal uses⁵².

Composition:

Main components are the phenols, thymol and carvacrol⁵².

Properties and Uses:

The above components will cause inactivation of enzymes responsible for energy production and structure synthesis of bacteria. Hence, being antibacterial. Thymol is responsible for antiseptic and anti-fungal properties of thyme⁵³. It is used to prevent tooth decay and fungal infections of the oral cavity^53-55.

HERB	MOST EFFECTIVE AGAINST⁵⁶
THYME	Candida albicans
	Escherichia coli
	Staphylococcus. aureus
	Enterococcus faecalis

5. PEPPERMINT LEAF:

Biological Name:

Menthabalsamea Willd⁵⁷.

Introduction:

It is a herb with strong aroma. Hence, widely used for culinary purposes and also has dental implications.

Composition:

Peppermint oil has a high concentration of natural pesticides such as pulegone and menthone. Apart from these it contains menthol^{57, 58}.

Properties and Uses:

Menthol in low concentrations causes cooling sensation by its direct effect on the “cold receptor” TRPM8. Whereas in higher concentrations it causes local anesthesia and irritation⁵⁸. Many people believe that chewing peppermint leaf makes a very effective reliever to dental pain⁵⁸.

HERB	MOST EFFECTIVE AGAINST⁵⁶
PEPPERMINT LEAF	C. albicans
	E. coli
	S. aureus
	E. faecalis

CONCLUSION:

From this review, it can be concluded that spices and herbs not just add flavour to our food but does yet another favour of preventing and treating dental problems. Various herbs and spices that are used every day for culinary purpose have been found to have bacteriocidal and bacteriostatic effects on various oral pathogens like Streptococcus mutans, Lactobacillus, etc.

The natural remedies are also effective in dental problems.

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Received on 28.10.2019 Modified on 25.08.2021

Res. J. Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics.2022;14(1):23-28.

DOI: 10.52711/2321-5836.2022.00004