Material and Methods
Preparation of Miswak Extract
A sample of the most commonly used chewing sticks in Saudi Arabia, of which the color and scent indicated that it came from an Arak tree (Salvadora persica), was collected from Gizan province in Saudi Arabia.
The fresh miswak was cut into small pieces and allowed to dry at room temperature
for two days. Then it was ground to powder in a ball mill. Successive
10 gram quantity was put into sterile screw-capped bottle to which 100 ml of
sterile deionized distilled water was added. The extract was allowed to
soak for 48 hours at 4°C and then centrifuged at 2,000 rpm for 10 mins. The
supernatant was passed through filter paper (0.45 
m pore size) and
the extract was prepared at 50% concentration. The extract was stored
at 4°C and used within one week.5
Subject Selection
Forty male subjects, 20-45 years of age, were selected from the periodontal clinics at King Saud University, College of Dentistry, Darriyah Campus. The selected subjects were medically healthy with no systemic diseases and had not used any antibiotics or antiseptic mouthwash during the last two weeks. Smokers were not included in the study.
The subjects were divided into four groups with 10 in each group.
Group 1 – Miswak Group
Ten subjects were asked to use fresh miswak for 6 minutes in clinic. A
stimulated saliva sample (2 ml) was collected before and after the use of miswak
by expectorating into a sterile glass test tube.
Group 2 – 50% Miswak Extract (Solution)
Ten subjects were asked to rinse with 50% miswak extract of 5 ml for 6 minutes. A
stimulated saliva (2 ml) sample was collected before and after the use of the
miswak extract (solution).
Group 3 – Toothbrush
Ten subjects were asked to brush their teeth with a new Colgate toothbrush
(medium texture) for 6 minutes. A saliva sample was collected before
and after toothbrushing.
Group 4 – Saline (Control)
Ten subjects were asked to rinse with normal saline (5 ml) for 6 minutes. A
2 ml stimulated saliva sample was collected before and after rinsing with saline.
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| Citation Number: Vol. 5, No. 1, Page 107 |
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