TSETIMI OMATSOLA JACKSON

Background: Oral hygiene is an important part of the body overall well-being, and should be treated with the utmost care to prevent dental problems. Acalypha wilkesiana Muell. Arg. Euphorbiaceae), commonly known as copper leaf, is a tropical lant native to West Africa, with notable antimicrobial activities. This study was carried out to investigate the antimicrobial properties of the methanol leaf extract of Acalypha wilkesiana formulated as herbal toothpaste. Method: Toothpaste was formulated using the leaf extract of A. wilkesiana. The extract was incorporated into a toothpaste base prepared using calcium carbonate, starch, glycerin, sodium lauryl sulfate, saccharine and peppermint oil. Sensory and physicochemical properties of the toothpaste were evaluated. Antimicrobial evaluation was by the Agar well diffusion method against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, acillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella aerogenes, Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger at concentrations of 100-500
mg/ml. Results: The A. wilkesiana formulated toothpaste had a pleasant smell and was sweet to taste. It had good foaming abilities with a pH range of 7.4-7.8. The formulated herbal toothpaste had poor antibacterial activity but no antifungal activity against the clinical isolates at low concentrations. Significant activities were recorded at 500 mg/ml against all five (5) bacteria isolates, with Bacillus subtilis recording the highest zone of inhibition. Conclusion: The formulated A. wilkesiana toothpaste showed significant antibacterial effects against microbes implicated in periodontal diseases and dental caries, hence serving as a potential alternative to orthodox toothpastes for maintaining oral hygiene. Keywords: Acalypha wilkesiana, Euphorbiaceae, Antimicrobial, Toothpaste