Effectiveness of Extracts of the Root of Zanthoxylum Zanthoxyloides (Linn.) Waterman (Rutaceae) Formulated as Toothpastes

Abstract

The root of Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides (Linn.) Waterman, commonly used as a chewing stick in south-western Nigeria, has been reported to have antibacterial activities. This study was carried out to assess the antibacterial activities of the root extracts of the plant and their toothpaste formulations on oral bacterial isolates and type strains. Ethanolic and aqueous extracts of the root bark, wood cellulose and whole root and their tooth paste formulations were evaluated by agar diffusion-cup plate method against type strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Clinical isolates obtained from oral specimens of dental patients and identified by conventional methods were also used. Root extracts were dispersed in a variety of bases for toothpaste formulations. Ethanolic extract of whole root and its toothpaste exhibited the highest antibacterial activities comparable at 2.5%w/w but considerably higher at 5.0%w/w to those of commercially available tooth pastes used as positive control. The root extracts exhibited higher activities against oral bacterial isolates than the type strains. All the test agents showed no activity against P. aeruginosa. The findings indicated that development and use of Z. zanthoxyloides root as a toothpaste will serve to improve oral health.