Guest guest Posted November 15, 2007 Report Share Posted November 15, 2007 Magnolia bark takes bite out of bad breath By SteenhuysenWed Nov 14, 5:38 PM ET Adding a pinch of magnolia bark to mints or gum can eliminate bad breath by killing most odor-causing germs, U.S. researchers reported on Wednesday. Most bad breath occurs when bacteria in the mouth break down proteins, producing foul-smelling sulfur compounds. But many anti-bacterial agents cause nasty side effects like tooth staining, making them impractical for oral care. Magnolia bark extract -- a traditional Chinese medicine used to treat fever, headache and stress -- has proven effective against germs that cause ulcers, and recent studies have shown it has low toxicity and few side effects. Scientists at chewing gum maker Wm Wrigley Jr Co wanted to see if it could kill halitosis-causing bacteria, and if it could be used in a gum or mint. Researchers Minmin Tan and colleagues, reporting in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, tested magnolia bark's germ-killing ability in a Wrigley lab. They found it highly effective against three types of oral microorganisms, killing 99.9 percent of bad breath bacteria within five minutes. Tests on nine healthy Wrigley employees who chewed mints and gum containing the bark after lunch produced less dramatic but still potent effects. The mints killed off more than 61 percent of the germs that cause bad breath within 30 minutes -- comparable to some commercial mouthwashes. Mints without the extract were only 3.6 percent effective. The gum didn't work as well, reducing oral bacteria by 43 percent within 40 minutes, compared with an 18 percent reduction in gum with no extract. The extract also helped kill a group of bacteria that causes tooth decay. " Because bacteria are the major cause of breath odor, products containing effective germ-kill compounds will provide a long-lasting reduction of oral malodor, " the researchers wrote. But don't expect it in stores any time soon. " It's a long way from scientific research to a commercializable product, and there's a lot of perils and pitfalls along the way, " said Wrigley spokesman Perille. (Editing by Maggie Fox and Walsh) Copyright © 2007 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Copyright © 2007 All rights reserved. Questions or Comments Privacy Policy -Terms of Service - Copyright/IP Policy - Ad Feedback Spiritual freedom is my birthright. I am a free thinker. I am able to rise above mental prejudices and stereotypes of others. I am a free thinker. Nobody and nothing can manipulate me or deceive me. I am a free thinker. I freely choose truth and love. Today, I embrace a greater degree of spiritual freedom. ________________________________________________________________________________\ ____ Get easy, one-click access to your favorites. Make your homepage. http://www./r/hs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 15, 2007 Report Share Posted November 15, 2007 Thanks Marty! Have never heard anything about magnolia bark. It's going in the files. :-) Blessings, Joy [ ] Magnolia bark Magnolia bark takes bite out of bad breath By SteenhuysenWed Nov 14, 5:38 PM ET Adding a pinch of magnolia bark to mints or gum caneliminate bad breath by killing most odor-causinggerms, U.S. researchers reported on Wednesday. Most bad breath occurs when bacteria in the mouthbreak down proteins, producing foul-smelling sulfurcompounds. But many anti-bacterial agents cause nastyside effects like tooth staining, making themimpractical for oral care. Magnolia bark extract -- a traditional Chinesemedicine used to treat fever, headache and stress --has proven effective against germs that cause ulcers,and recent studies have shown it has low toxicity andfew side effects. Scientists at chewing gum maker Wm Wrigley Jr Cowanted to see if it could kill halitosis-causingbacteria, and if it could be used in a gum or mint. Researchers Minmin Tan and colleagues, reporting inthe Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, testedmagnolia bark's germ-killing ability in a Wrigley lab. They found it highly effective against three types oforal microorganisms, killing 99.9 percent of badbreath bacteria within five minutes. Tests on nine healthy Wrigley employees who chewedmints and gum containing the bark after lunch producedless dramatic but still potent effects. The mints killed off more than 61 percent of the germsthat cause bad breath within 30 minutes -- comparableto some commercial mouthwashes. Mints without theextract were only 3.6 percent effective. The gum didn't work as well, reducing oral bacteria by43 percent within 40 minutes, compared with an 18percent reduction in gum with no extract. The extract also helped kill a group of bacteria thatcauses tooth decay. "Because bacteria are the major cause of breath odor,products containing effective germ-kill compounds willprovide a long-lasting reduction of oral malodor," theresearchers wrote. But don't expect it in stores any time soon. "It's a long way from scientific research to acommercializable product, and there's a lot of perilsand pitfalls along the way," said Wrigley spokesmanPerille. (Editing by Maggie Fox and Walsh) Copyright © 2007 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.Republication or redistribution of Reuters content isexpressly prohibited without the prior written consentof Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errorsor delays in the content, or for any actions taken inreliance thereon. Copyright © 2007 All rights reserved.Questions or CommentsPrivacy Policy -Terms of Service - Copyright/IP Policy- Ad Feedback Spiritual freedom is my birthright. I am a free thinker. I am able to rise above mentalprejudices and stereotypes of others. I am a free thinker. Nobody and nothing can manipulateme or deceive me. I am a free thinker. I freely choose truth and love. Today, I embrace a greater degree of spiritualfreedom. ____________________________________________________________________________________Get easy, one-click access to your favorites. Make your homepage.http://www./r/hs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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