This study
investigated the ameliorative effects of garlic clove (Allium sativum) on toothaches and its causative organisms Twenty
Four Female subjects were selected for this study. They were divided in four
(4) groups vizGroup A (6) served as
control, while groups B,C and D were the groups that used garlic clove (Group
B), garlic clove plus ibuprofen (Group C) and Ibuprofen only (Group D). The
treatment lasted for five (5) days.
Result from the study showed that Group B subjects received more
effective relieve from pain and aches when examined than those other groups
in Groups A,C and D.
The reduction in pain and aches could be attributed to the presence of
flavenoids and Allicin in Garlic which are known to be antimicrobial,
antifungal, anti-inflammatory and pain killer.
The study suggests that garlic clove is very effective in ameliorating
toothache.
Every
living thing including man requires a healthy state to survive the environment
where he finds himself. Sometimes a disease can emanate from accidents, blows,
eating of unhealthy food, chewing of bone, hard materials and drinks. Most food
and drinks we take are through the mouth and the teeth is involved in grinding
some of the food.
Toothache is a common dental problem that
affects people of all ages. It is characterized by pain or discomfort in the
teeth, jaws and gums. The intensity of the pain range from mild to severe and
can be caused by various factors. It is one of the most excruciating pains that
can make anyone’s life miserable.
Symptoms and signs
Fever,
general pain that lasts more than one or two days, swelling, pain when you
bite, abnormally red gums and foul-tasting, discharge or pus.
Causes of Tooth ache
Dental
decay: This is due to the irreversible solubilization of tooth mineral by acid
produced by certain bacteria that adhere to the tooth surface in bacterial
communities known as dental plaque (DZink et al, 1988)
Etiology
Streptococcus
mutans is the main cause of dental decay. Various lactobacilli are associated
with progression of the lesion.
Abscess: It is a tooth infection that can occur if a
cavity goes untreated.
Teeth grinding (Bruxism): It is the grinding or clenching of teeth. This
can result to pain
Periodontal disease: This can establish itself when the gums detach
from the teeth as a result of an inflammatory response to plaque (Lamster,
1992).
Etiology: Periodental infections are usually mixed most
often involving anaerobes such as Treponema denticola and porphyromonas
Gingivalis: There is no apparent pain until very late when
abscesses may occur. Bleeding gums and bad breath may occur.
Many
approaches to treating toothache abound but Garlic cloves have been suggested
to alleviate tooth ache hence the study on the ameliorative effect of Garlic Clove
on toothache and its causative organisms. Garlic is a plant in the Allium
(Onion) family. It is closely related to onions, shallots and leeks. Each
segment of a garlic bulb is called a Clove. It is a specie of bulbous flowering
plant in the genus Allium. It is also a perennial flowering plant that grows
from a bulb that contains outer layers of thin, whitish sheaths or skin that
enclose various lobes known as cloves. Garlic is characterized by elongated
narrow flat and linear gray green leaves that are longitudinally folded and
have a keel on their lower surface
Medicinal uses of Garlic
Most
of Garlic’s health benefits are due to the formation of sulfur compounds when
one crush or chew a garlic clove. The sulfur compounds enter one’s body from
the digestive tract and travel all over the body exerting strong biological
effects.
Garlic inhibits and destroys bacteria, fungus
and parasites hence its efficacy in the treatment of tooth aches and infections
as well as lowers blood pressure, cholesterol and sugar levels, preventing
blood clotting and protecting the liver.
Phytochemical contents of
Garlic
Garlic
is a plant-based food which is known to have strong natural anti biotic with a
wide spectrum phytochemical content that acts as antibacterial. This includes
essential oil, allicin, ajoene and flavenoids, several organosulfur compounds, N-acetylcysteine,
(NAC), s-allyl-cysteine (sAtc) and S-ally- mercapto cysterine. Despite its high
medicinal and culinary value, garlic contains some anti nutritional factors
such as flavonoids, saponins, tannin, alkaloids, steroids, phenolic
acids, carbohydrates, reducing sugars lipids, ketones, phenols and cardiac
glycosides.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Subjects:
24
female subjects living in Enugu metropolis known to be attending crown dental
center and other centres for toothache problems were selected for this study
Experimental Design
The
24 female subjects suffering toothaches were divided into four (4) groups Viz
Group A, B, C and D consisting of 6 subjects in each group.Group A, the control, group B received Garlic
clove paste only, Group C received Garlic Clove paste and ibuprofen tabs while
group D received only Ibuprofen tabs. All the treatment lasted for 5 days.
Preparation of Garlic clove
paste
Fresh
Garlic cloves were collected from botanical garden and identified by a
taxonomist. They were washed, weighed, cut and pulverized to fine powder. They
were stored in clean universal containers (Oguwike et al, 2011)
Phytochemical Analysis of
Garlic
Aqueos
preparation of garlic clove was screed for the presence or absence of various
secondary metabolites using standard phytochemical screening procedures as
described by Harbourne (1973), Trease and Evans (1996). The extract was tested
for resins, calcium, alkaloids, flavenoids, reducing sugars, saponins,
glycosides, carbohydrates, steroids, acidic compounds, fats, and oil
Toxicity study
The
LD50 of extract in albino rats was determined using Lorke’s method
(1983). The procedure of determining the lethal dose is by increasing the
concentration of the extracts administered to the rats (Per body weight) in
each group consisting of eight (8) rats per groups for five (5) days. The
concentration used are 500mg/kg, 1000mg/kg, 200mg/kg, 3,000mg/kg, 4,000mg/kg,
5000mg/kg, 6000mg/kg and 7,000mg/kg per body weight respectively. The mortality
rate was determined and a graph plotted to determine the LD50.
Study
on effectiveness of Garlic clove and ibuprofen (Pain reliever) on toothache
subjects;
The
study on effectiveness of Garlic clove on toothache compared to allopathic
remedy (ibuprofen) was carried out using 24 female subjects grouped into four
(4) Group A is the Control Group and received only normal saline, Group B subjects
received garlic clove paste only, Group C subjects received garlic clove paste
and Ibuprofen tabs while group D subjects received only ibuprofen tabs.
The subjects were asked to place the garlic
clove paste on the troubled teeth while ibuprofen tabs were swallowed daily for
a period of 5 days. The control groups gargled their mouth with normal saline.
The subjects in the groups were examined and
their reports were noted
RESULTS
The
results obtained from this study are shown in tables 1 &@ and figure 1.
Table 1: The phytochemcial
analysis of Allium sativium (Garlic)
-
Negative (absent)
+
present in small concentration n
++
present in moderate high concentration
+++
present in very high concentration
Table 2: study on the
effectiveness of garlic clove and ibuprofen on tooth ache subjects for 5 days
Paste
Dose of paste 58/kg
Observation
Significance
Group A Control n=6 (placebo) 5 days
__
__
Non
Group B n=6 (Garlic only) 5 days
58/kg
+++
Very effective
Group C n=6 (Garlic + ibuprofen) 5 days
58/kg
++
Moderately effective
Group D n=6 (Ibuprofen only) 5 days
58/kg
+
Less effective
Figure 1: Mortality study
showing the effects of administering graded doses (500-7000 mg/kg) in the rats
of garlic cloves against the percentage mortalities. LD50 is
4000mg/kg body weight
DISCUSSION
Local
medicinal herbs have been employed in the management of various diseases and
their protective effect on the body from damage due to free radicals and lipid
peroxidation has been reported (Pau-ling 2002). The ameliorative effect of
garlic clove (Allium sativa) on toothache and causative organisms has been
studied.
Garlic Cloves have been used as a traditional
medicine for centuries due to their natural analgesic antibacterial and
antifungi properties
The phytochemical analysis of garlic (Table
1) indicates that it contains large quantity of flavenoids. Flavenoids are
secondary metabolites present in many plants, fruits, vegetables and leaves
with potential applications in medicinal chemistry. It possess a number of
medicinal benefits including anticancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and
antiviral properties. They also have neuroprotective and cardio-protective
effects.
The presence of bioactive phytochemical
constituents present in these different plant parts gives them their medicinal
value and biological activities (Thilakarathna et al, 2013).
Saponins is another phytochemical element
present in Garlic. Saponins are naturally occurring compounds that are widely
distributed in all cells of legume plants. Saponins effect the immune system in
ways that help to protect the human body against cancers and also lower
cholesterol levels, saponins decrease blood lipids, lower cancer risks and
lower blood glucose response. A high saponin diet can be used in the inhibition
of dental carriers (John et al 2004) and platelet aggregation.
The lethal dose of garlic in this research is
4000mg/kg in rats (figure 1). The dose used in this research for the subjects
5g/kg is very safe. The study on the effectiveness of garlic clove compared
with ibuprofen (pain relieve) table 2 showed that group B subjects who used
only garlic clove to treat toothache was more effective. Allicin is known to be
present in garlic. It is an unstable compound that is only briefly present in
fresh garlic after it is cut or crushed. It is naturally analgesic. Allicin has
antibacterial and antimicrobial properties that can help kill some of the
bacteria associated with toothaches. Hence it is able to reduce toothache very
well unlike ibuprofen which is a pain killer but does not rid off bacteria and
other microbes that can remultiply again in the tooth and continue to cause
pain.
Preventing toothache is better than having to
deal with the pain and discomfort.
One should always maintain a consistent oral
hygiene by brushing teeth at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and use
dental floss or itnerdental cleaners to clean between the teeth daily. Proper
oral hygiene helps remove plaque and prevent tooth decay. Again smoking and
using tobacco products increase the risk of gum disease and tooth decay.
Quitting or avoiding tobacco can significantly improve oral health.
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