Title Details

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This research is done to help improve the oral hygiene of the underprivileged people who cannot afford to buy mouthwash. The Muntingia calabura L. mouthwash serves as an alternative for those commercial mouthwashes sold in the market. This research is conducted to verify the Muntingia calabura L. sample through botanical authentication, to know the secondary constituents of Muntingia calabura L. through Phytochemical analysis, to determine the efficacy of Muntingia calabura L. extract against bacteria in the oral cavity through Kirby-bauer test, and to develop a mouthwash using the Muntingia calabura L. extract. The researchers gathered enough leaves of Muntingia calabura L. then dried it using the Multi Commodity Heat Pump Dryer (MCHPD). The verification of the plant was done at the National Museum of the Philippines and antibacterial and phytochemical test was done at the Development Institute of the Department of Science and Technology. Result shows that indeed the plant belongs to a Muntingiaceae family with a scientific name Muntingia calabura L. and that Muntingia calabura L. crude extract produced complete inhibitory activity (+++) against Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans with mild reactivity on the said oral pathogens. After establishing the results, the researches continued on the preparation of the mouthwash. The formulated mouthwash was also tested if there is an antibacterial and antifungal effect. The result showed that there is a complete inhibitory activity (+++) of the Muntingia calabura L> mouthwash with honey against Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans, and a partial inhibitory activity (++) of the Muntingia calabura L. mouthwash without honey against the same oral pathogens. In the reactivity results, Muntingia calbura L. mouthwash with honey had a moderate reactivity result against Candida albicans and has a mild reactivity result against Staphylococcus aureus, while the Muntingia calabura L. mouthwash without honey had a mild reactivity on both Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. The Muntingia calabura L. crude extract has a high active antimicrobial activity, with a ++ (12-14mm) reactivity against Streptococcus mutans. The Muntingia calabura L. mouthwash with honey resulted with a moderately active antibacterial activity with a ++ (12-14mm) reactivity. Based on the phytochemical analysis result, Muntingia calabura L. is abundant in Tannins, Saponins, Falvonoids, and Triterpenes which has a great antimicrobial property. It also contains a moderate trace of Glycosides that gives an antioxidant property. Traces of Sterols and Alkaloids also help in the antimicrobial property of the plant, therefore it can be use as an antimicrobial component for a mouthwash. This research study recommends an in vitro study to be conducted focusing on the different ph level of Muntingia calabura L. mouthwash and an In vitro study to be conducted to prove the efficacy of the developed Muntingia calabura L. mouthwash.

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