Apricot and Plum, the next Generation of Oral Hygiene

Kyle J. Norton

People with problem of oral hygiene may consider to add Apricot and Plum into their diet, new study suggested. In fact, the foods not contain measurable amount of nutrients which are important to
maintain the proper growth and body functions, but also enhance the immune system in fighting against invasion of  foreign substances, including bacterial and viral agents.

Patients with oral hygiene incompetence may be experience certain dental consequences such as  gums diseases  including cavities or even tooth loss.

According to the study by the University of Karachi, butanolic extract from Prunus armeniaca exhibited antibacterial activity against both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria(1).

Mei, other member of the Prunus armeniaca, a favorite snack of Asian women, especially for those in the early stage of pregnancy, probably due to its sour taste, is also found to improve oral hygiene. According to the study of the University of Hong Kong, in the differentiation of the anti bacterial effectiveness of 20 traditional Chinese herbs. Mei was found to exert a significant effect against all testing oral bacteria, namely, Streptococcus mitis, Streptococcus sanguis, Streptococcus mutans and Porphyromonas gingivalis(3).

Organic acids, the main ingredient of fructus mume extract, also showed a strong evidence in enhancing oral hygiene through its antimicrobial effect on orthodontic bracket in vitro by increasing the amount of dead bacteria on the surface(4).

Mei or Lu E Mei is also known as Plum. The sour and warm herb has been used in TCM to treat  diarrhea, pain from colic caused by ascaris, alleviates thirst, as well as other digestive system diseases caused by imbalance of  bacteria. According to the the University of Hong Kong, at suspension of 2 g/mL the extract showed a significantly inhibited effect on all tested oral pathogenic bacteria and may be considered as a potential anti- oral antimicrobial agent to control or prevent dental diseases(5).

Unfortunately, accompanied to their health effects, Mei can not be used in case of internal heat excess  such as high fever with infection or cold or flu without sweat)(6) and sulfite sensitive People  should not consume fried apricot because sulfur- compounds are often added to dried foods as preservatives for prevention of oxidation, according to traditional Chinese medicine.(7).


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References
(1) Flavonoid glycosides from Prunus armeniaca and the antibacterial activity of a crude extract by Rashid F¹, Ahmed R, Mahmood A, Ahmad Z, Bibi N, Kazmi SU.(PubMed)(2)
(3) Antimicrobial activity of Chinese medicine herbs against common bacteria in oral biofilm. A pilot study by Wong RW¹, Hägg U, Samaranayake L, Yuen MK, Seneviratne CJ, Kao R.(PubMed)
(4) The antimicrobial efficacy of Fructus mume extract on orthodontic bracket: a monospecies-biofilm model study in vitro by Chen Y¹, Wong RW, Seneviratne CJ, Hägg U, McGrath C, Samaranayake LP, Kao R.(PubMed)
(5) Prunus mume extract exhibits antimicrobial activity against pathogenic oral bacteria by Seneviratne CJ¹, Wong RW, Hägg U, Chen Y, Herath TD, Samaranayake PL, Kao R.(PubMed)
(6) #Healthy #Foods - Fruits - Apricot (Prunus armeniaca)
(7) Chinese Herbs – Mei or Lu E Mei (Fructus Armeniaca mume)