Oral Health and Herbal Medicine

Oral health loss is one of the major problems existing all over the world and is one of the top causes of death when unmanaged. The oral cavity is home to numerous pathogenic microorganisms, some of which are responsible for the progression and development of various systemic diseases such as cancer, diabetes and myocardial infarction. Worldwide, 60-90% of school children and nearly 100% of adults have dental cavities, often leading to pain and discomfort. There are implications for the global economy as well, due to the continuous burden of investing resources to maintain oral hygiene. Not surprisingly, developing countries are disproportionally affected. There is thus an urgent need to develop economical solutions for the treatment of oral diseases. The trend of exploring plants or plant-derived compounds for the prevention and cure of death-causing diseases is on the rise. The use of traditional medicine for oral diseases is an ancient practice in which medicinal herbs playa major role. Medicinal plants have minimal side effects and no denigrating properties. Accordingly the use of medicinal plants to curtail oral pathogens has been reported by a number of studies.
The present book updates the issues related to oral health, oral diseases and the role of medicinal plants in overcoming orally-derived health problems. We also highlight the knowledge gaps in oral health related problems with medicinal plants as one of the solutions. Our ultimate goal is to encourage future research and application of medicinal plants for economical and efficient treatment of oral diseases.

Dr. Khalid Rehman Hakeem is a Professor at King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. He has completed his Ph.D. (Botany) from Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, India in 2011. Dr. Hakeem has worked as Post Doctorate Fellow in 2012 and Fellow Researcher (Associate Prof.) from 2013-2016 at Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia. His specialty is Plant Eco-Physiology, Molecular biology, Plant-Microbe-soil interactions, Medicinal plant research and Environmental Sciences and so far has edited and authored more than 50 books with Springer International, Academic Press, etc. He has also to his credit more than 110 research publications in peer reviewed international journals, including 60 book chapters in edited volumes with international publishers. Dr Hakeem is the recipient of many national and international awards and fellowships.
Dr. M Ali is currently working under Ministry of Higher Education as a lecturer of Pharmacognosy in the department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, Jazan University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). He received his Ph.D. from Jamia Hamdard University, New Delhi, India in 2012 for "Phytochemical and Pharmacological studies of an Anticancer Medicinal Plant and its Authentication using Molecular Biology Techniques". He is also recipient of Government of India, Junior research fellowship (JRF, GATE) fellowship for pursuing Masters in Pharmacy (M. Pharm) for "Enhanced Production of Vasicine and Vasicinone from callus culture of Adhatoda vasica". He has published/presented about 25 research articles in the national and international journal of repute. He has reviewed scientific papers in field of Pharmaceutical science.

- Preface Dedication 1. Introduction 2. Oral hygiene for healthy life 3. Oral diseases and their severity 4. Traditional information about herbal medicine of oral activity 5. Role of medicinal plant species in oral health sector 6. Oral Health Care Products Obtained From Medicinal Plants 7. Clinical evidence of dental treatment by using herbal formulations 8. Conclusions 9. Future recommendations References