Comparative study of fluoride in Alcornea cordifolia and commercial toothpastes

Abstract

Fluoride was extracted from Alcornea cordifolia plant using sohxlet extractor. The fluoride content was determined by using a fluoride ion selective electrode. The fluoride content was found to be about 10% of that present in commercial toothpastes. The hard stem of the plant contained a higher amount of fluoride than the tender stem. Hence, the hard stem is a cheap source of fluoride when compared to commercial toothpastes.

Keywords: Alcornea cordifolia, fluoride, toothpaste.

African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(31), pp. 4984-4986