Gad ONYWERE

Background and Objectives: Peppermint (Mentha piperita) is an herbaceous rhizomatous perennial plant that grows up to thirty-five inches tall, with smooth stems and square in cross-section. It is an aromatic herb that is used for health purposes, fragrances, and cosmetics. The study aimed to extract aqueous and non-aqueous plant extracts from Mentha piperita, determine the efficacy of these plant extracts against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli pathogens and compare the antimicrobial potency of the plant extracts. Materials and Methods: The aqueous and non-aqueous plant extracts were subjected to the extraction process using solvent systems such as distilled water and methanol in the maceration technique. The crude extracts were obtained and further subjected for sample preparation using different concentrations of 20%, 40% and 50% respectively. Antibacterial activity assay was done to determine the sensitivity of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli using the conce...

Objectives: The study was to compare the efficacy of selected commercial mouthwashes and natural products against oral microorganisms. Method: Red sage (Lantana camara) and Chew stick (Gouania lupuloides) plant material were collected from Northern Caribbean University farm. Ethanolic and aqueous extracts of the plants were extracted and concentrated with a rotor vapor. The extracts were utilized for the preparation of different concentrations for antimicrobial sensitivity. Commercial mouthwashes: Crest, ACT, Ultra Care, Cari-Med and Listerine were tested against the isolates: Streptococcus mutans, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa from oral cavity. Phytochemical screening was done on the plant extracts to determine their active ingredients. Results: The results showed that Red sage and Chew stick extracts had the highest zone of inhibition against the oral microorganisms compared to the commercial mouthwashes. The microorganisms were weakly sensi...

Objectives: The study was to compare the efficacy of selected commercial mouthwashes and natural products against oral microorganisms. Method: Red sage (Lantana camara) and Chew stick (Gouania lupuloides) plant material were collected from Northern Caribbean University farm. Ethanolic and aqueous extracts of the plants were extracted and concentrated with a rotor vapor. The extracts were utilized for the preparation of different concentrations for antimicrobial sensitivity. Commercial mouthwashes: Crest, ACT, Ultra Care, Cari-Med and Listerine were tested against the isolates: Streptococcus mutans, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa from oral cavity. Phytochemical screening was done on the plant extracts to determine their active ingredients. Results: The results showed that Red sage and Chew stick extracts had the highest zone of inhibition against the oral microorganisms compared to the commercial mouthwashes. The microorganisms were weakly sensi...