ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Gandhaka rasayana (GR) is an important component of many Ayurvedic formulations besides being used as a standalone therapy. However, literature review revealed a chronic toxicity studies with longer duration. OBJECTIVES: To delineate the safety profile of GR for 180 days administration in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Wistar albino rats of both sexes weighing 150 ± 10 g body weight in groups of 20 (10 male and 10 female) for each of the three GR dose levels i.e., 0.54 g, 1.08 g, and 5.4 g/kg were employed. Carboxyl methyl cellulose was administered to the control group in equal volume. Toxicity was assessed based on the changes observed, compared to control, in body weight gain, food and water consumption, organ weight and histopathology, clinical biochemistry, and hematological parameters as per AYUSH guidelines. RESULTS: GR repeated dose administration caused significant changes in body weight gain, organ ponderal changes, few hematologic and biochemical parameters. Male rats administered with GR at 1.08 g/kg dose showed a significant decrease in the MCV and MCH compared to control, whereas female rat's administred with 1.08 g/kg and 0.54 g/kg dose showed a significant increase in the MCV and MCH. GR administered at 0.54 g/kg showed a significant increase in the serum glucose level in male rats, whereas female rats showed a significant elevation in the cholesterol level. GR at 0.54 g/kg and 5.4 g/kg showed a significant elevation in the serum SGPT level in male rats. These changes were not observed in female rats. Histological examination revealed mild pathological changes in organs like kidney, liver, spleen and jejunum. CONCLUSION: The data generated shows that GR is safe and does not have any toxicity potential at the doses used in therapeutics. Some of the changes observed were at higher dose levels which is not likely to be used clinically.
ABSTRACT
The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of chewing gum on the salivary pH and to compare the effect of chewing bicarbonate-containing sugar-free gum on salivary pH against that of standard sugar-free gum. The experiment was carried out on 30 volunteers aged 20-22 years (mean age = 21 years) who fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The test gum was sugar-free greenmint-flavored bicarbonate-containing gum and the standard control was sugar-free spearmint-flavored gum. The pH was measured immediately using pH strips. According to statistical analysis, the mean salivary pH of the bicarbonate gum at 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 minutes is 6.9713, 6.5667, 6.4267, 6.3867 and 6.3233 respectively. There is decrease in pH from 0 to 20 minutes. According to Bonferroni, there was no significant difference in pH from 0 to 20 minutes, 10 to 20 minutes and 15 to 20 minutes, but there was a significant difference in salivary pH from 5 to 20 minutes (p = 0.014). The mean salivary pH of the standard gum at 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 minutes is 6.8767, 6.6067, 6.4200, 6.4027 and 6.3000 respectively. There is decrease in pH from 0 to 20 minutes. According to Bonferroni, there was no significant difference in pH from 0 to 20 minutes, 5 to 20 minutes, 10 to 20 minutes and 15 to 20 minutes. Thus, the higher salivary pH achieved with chewing bicarbonate gum compared with a standard sugar-free gum may have important oral health implications. How to cite this article: Ballal RK, Bhat SS, Ramdas SS, Ballal S. Effect of Chewing Bicarbonate-containing Sugar-free Gum on the Salivary pH: An in vivo Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2016;9(1):35-38.