Effects of a triclosan dentifrice on plaque formation, gingivitis and gingival bleeding in pregnant women: five-month clinical results.

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of a triclosan/copolymer dentifrice on plaque formation, gingivitis and gingival bleeding in pregnant subjects. This double-blind clinical study was carried out in 180 women at 3 months of pregnancy. The subjects were stratified into two balanced groups according to their baseline plaque, gingivitis and bleeding scores. Subjects received a thorough dental prophylaxis and were assigned to brush with either a placebo or triclosan dentifrice for five months. They were instructed to brush their teeth as they normally would, twice a day for one minute per brushing. Follow-up examinations after five months of dentifrice use evaluated supragingival plaque, gingivitis and gingival bleeding. After five months, the triclosan dentifrice significantly reduced plaque formation, gingivitis and gingival bleeding by 40.5%, 22.5% and 35.3%, respectively, compared to the placebo group (p<0.05).

Effect of Eupatorium odoratum on blood coagulation.

The purified compound, 4', 5, 6, 7-tetramethoxyflavone, is an active ingredient isolated from Eupatorium odoratum, a Thai indigenous plant that has long been used to stop bleeding. This compound was studied in vitro for the effect on blood clotting factor activities. It was found that the compound enhanced blood coagulation, the observed APTT being shorter than that observed in the control. The result suggested that the compound accelerated clotting time through the intrinsic pathway of the coagulation which may involve the reaction of factor XII, factor XI, factor IX or factor VIII.