Siwak or Miswak stick is an ancient traditional way to clean teeth. Siwak or miswak is the twig of plants which formerly known as The Teeth Cleaner in the age of Babylonian, Ancient Egyptian, Jews, Roman, and Arab ancestors. Many species are used as the chewing twig during those ancient times, but the most popular one is Miswak stick (“Salvadora Persica”)
Muslims use Siwak to obey Prophet Mohammed suggestion to keep the teeth and mouth clean.
"If only it didn't burden for my followers, I would order them to clean their teeth whenever they prayed " (HR. Buchory & Muslim) The prophet Muhammad SAW suggests to keeping teeth’s and mouth’s hygiene as he always mentioned by using Siwak stick before every pray.
Since many years ago, many scientists tried to do a research and paper work on Siwak stick in prevention of dental caries, eliminate of gum diseases, and general benefits for a healthy mouth and strong teeth.
Presently, with this as a basic raw material for our Siwak-F Toothpaste products, we proud to present toothpaste products that combines actual miswak stick (freshly-grinded into powder form) with other high quality ingredients for a superior and effective formula. We believe this combination has also resulted in the unique and distinguished taste of our toothpaste.
CHEMICAL CONTENT OF SALVADORA PERSICA
Based on chemical research, Salvadora Persica amazingly contains of Tritely Amine, Alkaloid, Chlorine, Fluoride, Saponin, Tannin, Resin, Sulfur, Vitamin C and Sterol.
Chlorine is useful to remove stains, silica as teeth cleaner, Rennin as Enamel Protective Coating preventing the teeth from decay's problem. Vitamin C and Trimetyl Amine help to cure and support gingival tissue. Sulfur, alkaloid and Fluoride protect the teeth from Caryogenic Bacteria.
SEVERAL RESEARCHES IN THE USE OF SIWAK
A comparative research in the use of Siwak powder, starch and other from used shows that Siwak powder has the lowest incidence of gingivitis, other research concludes that there is reduction in plaque score on the labial side decreases from 7 to 3, on the lingual side from 3 to 1, 53 and the palatal side reduces from 4, 7 to 1, 47.
M.I.Gazi and his associates (*1) concluded in their work that toothpaste with raw material Salvador Persica when used as gargle solution without tooth brush showed the result which exactly comparable with the chlorhexidine Gargle Solution. So, daily using this toothpaste along with toothbrush will effectively reduce the plaque formation and the incidence of Gingivitis.
Another research deduced that the reduction of plaque formation about 75 % after using Siwak for 8 day's. Further work done in comparing between incidence and prevalence carried to the Saudi Arabian Students between the ages 11 - 16 years, shows that the group using Siwak stick has the better condition than tooth brush users. The latest study concluded that siwak has a potential value to reduce the plaque formation and the inflammation of the gums.
(*1)M.I.Gazi professor of Preventive Dental Sciences, Division of Periodontics, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
SALVADORA PERSICA
Taxonomy
Current name: Salvadora persica
Authority: L.
Family: Salvadoraceae
Synonym(s)
Salvadora cyclophylla Chiov.
Salvadora indica Wight
Salvadora wightiana Planch.
Common names
(Afrikaans) : regte mosterdboom
(Amharic) : aday, yeharer-mefaqya
(Arabic) : aarak, arak, arrak, arraka, el Rak, kabats, shaow, shau, siwak
(Bengali) : jhal
(English) : mustard tree, salt bush, toothbrush tree
(French) : arbre a cure-dents, arbre a frotte-dents
(Hindi) : jhak, kharjal
(Somali) : ade, adhei
(Swahili) : msuake, mswaki, musuake
(Tamil) : kalawa, karkol, perungoli, ughaiputtai, vivay
(Tigrigna) : adai, hadai
Botanic description
Salvadora persica is an evergreen shrub or small tree to 6-7 m; main trunk erect or trailing with profusely branched, wide crown of crooked, straggling and drooping branches; young branches green in colour; bark slightly rough, greyish-brown on main stem, paler elsewhere. Leaves oblong-elliptic to almost circular, 3 x 7 cm, light to dark green, rather fleshy, sometimes with wartlike glandular dots and dense, rather loose hairs; apex broadly tapering to rounded, sharp-tipped; base broadly tapering; margin entire; petiole up to 10 mm long; leaves in opposite pairs. Flowers greenish to yellowish, very small, in loose, slender branched axillary or terminal panicles, up to 10 cm long. Fruit spherical, fleshy, 5-10 mm in diameter, pink to scarlet when mature, single seeded; seeds turn from pink to purple-red and are semi-transparent when mature. The generic name was given in 1749 in honour of an apothecary of Barcelona, Juan Salvador y Bosca (1598-1681), by Dr Laurent Garcin, botanist, traveller and plant collector. The true specimen of this species came, as the specific name indicates, from Persia.
Natural Habitat
S. persica is widespread, notably in thorn shrubs, desert floodplains, river and stream bank vegetation, and grassy savannahs. Prefers areas where groundwater is readily available, by riverbanks, on perimeters of waterholes, in seasonally wet sites, and along drainage lines in arid zones. Also found in valleys, on dunes and on termite mounds. The tree is able to tolerate a very dry environment with mean annual rainfall of less than 200 mm.
Highly salt tolerant, it can grow on coastal regions and inland saline soils.
Geographic distribution
Native : Algeria, Angola, Cameroon, Chad, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, India, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Kenya, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tanzania, Uganda, Yemen, Republic of Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Biophysical limits
Altitude: 0-1 800 m Soil type: Prefers clays but is found on loam, black soils and sand. Adapted to alkaline or very saline soils, usually clay-rich and soils without salt.
Reproductive Biology
Seeds dispersed by animals and man after they eat the fruit.
Propagation methods
Readily germinates from seed. Seeds exhibit no dormancy but the fruit pulp contains germination inhibitors that should be removed before sowing. The process of seed germination starts with imbibitions in water at 30-35 deg. C for 24-72 hours, but under saline conditions the absorption of water is dependent upon osmotic pressure of the media and cell sap. Soaked, de-pulped seeds of S. Persica will germinate in 24 hours. Seeds have been raised in the nursery for up to 3 years prior to transplanting in the field.
Tree Management
For high seed settings and seed oil content, harvesting is recommended 3 months after seed setting. This may be due to the utilization of food reserve in the cotyledons for the development of fruit pulp, and can be seen as the pulp content of fruit increases. Coppicing is advantageous for the tree’s use as a fuel, and the branches are repeatedly cut to produce short stems that are harvested for toothbrushes. S. persica is grown in plantations or hedges. It is generally a slow-growing tree.
Germplasm Management
Seed storage is orthodox; seeds can be stored with low moisture content. There are about 3400 seeds/kg.Functional uses
Products
Food: Fruits have a sweet, agreeable, aromatic, slightly pungent and peppery taste. They can be eaten raw, cooked, or dried and stored. Fruit with or without seeds is said to contain 1.7-1.86% sugars when ripe. Fermented drinks are also made from the fruit. The leaf is somewhat bitter and aromatic, with a taste likened to mustard. The leaves are also cooked as a sauce and eaten with couscous or as a green vegetable. Tender shoots, seeds and seed oil are also edible. Edible salts are obtained from ashes.
Fodder: Leaves and young shoots are browsed by all stock, but normally cattle do not occur in the driest part of the S. persica distribution range and hence it tends to be valued more as a camel, sheep and goat forage. Leaves make good fodder as their water content is high (15-36%). The high salt content of the leaves is said to affect the taste of milk, but the leaves are said to increase lactation in cows.
Apiculture: S. persica is reported as a good source of nectar. Fuel: The wood is sometimes used for firewood and charcoal. However, it is not used for cooking meat, as it leaves a foul taste. Timber: The wood is soft, white, easy to work and is not liable to termite attack. Used for coffins and clubs. Gum or resin: Resin that drips from the tree is supposedly useful for making varnish. Lipids: Seeds of S. persica contain 30-40% of a greenish-yellow, non-edible oil that has over 50% lauric and myristic acids. It has a high melting point and a disagreeable odour that disappears on purification. The most important aspect of the oil is the presence of a low percentage of C8 and C10 fatty acids that are of great economic significance. The oil is an alternative source of oil for soap and detergent industries.
Medicine: Toothbrushes made from roots and small branches of about 3-5 mm diameter have been used for over 1000 years, especially by Islamic populations in India, Arabia and Africa. Several agents occurring in the bark and wood have been suggested as aids in prevention of dental caries, such as antimicrobial agents that suppress bacterial growth and the formation of plaque. The tooth stick is also said to relieve toothache and gum disease. Roots also are used for cleaning teeth and for relieving toothache.
Decoctions of leaves are used as a mouthwash, and masticated leaves for tooth and gum problems. A decoction of the root is used to treat gonorrhoea, spleen trouble and general stomach-ache. Roots are also used for chest diseases or pounded and used as a poultice to heal boils. The bark is scratched and the latex used for treating sores. Seeds are used as a tonic, and seed oil is used on the skin for rheumatism. Other products: Crusted leaves placed in cow urine together with leaves of Pergularia tomentosa are used to clear hair from tanned hides, allowing the hair to be removed with a knife. Roots contain salvadourea, a urea derivative.
Services
Shade or shelter: Planted as shelterbelts and windbreaks to protect farm habitation, gardens and orchards. Reclamation: Planted in sand dune reclamation and also useful for reclaiming saline soils.
Pests and diseases
When S. Persica occurs on river terraces, it is a preferred host of Cistanche tubulosa, an obligate phanerogamic root parasite. Defoliating larvae of several beetles attack the tree, and leaves are often attacked by the lepidopteran Colotis ephiae. The mite Eriophyes causes leaf gall. A number of fungi such as Cercospora udaipurensis, Placosoma salvadorae and Sephogloeum salvadorae damage the leaves.
Bibliography
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REFERENCES LINKS
WIKIPEDIA (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvadora_persica)
"Salvadora persica". World Agroforestry Centre.
http://www.worldagroforestrycentre.org/sea/Products/AFDbases/AF/asp/SpeciesInfo.asp?SpID=1477