Effect of wheatgrass juice on salivary flowrate, pH, buffering capacity

Objectives: Wheatgrass juice is an herbal drink that is believed to have health benefits and is becoming popular in Asia. Saliva has several functions within the oral cavity which include lubricating the oral tissues, assisting the special sense of taste, acting as solvent, maintains the health of the oral mucosa, assisting in the digestion and controlling the oral microbial flora. The researchers conducted an experimental study on the effect of wheatgrass juice on salivary flow rate, pH and buffering capacity on twenty subjects. The researcher came out with this study to investigate the possible role of wheatgrass juice in the secretion of saliva to maintain adequate oral functions. Likewise, it will determine if wheatgrass juice could help increase salivary flow rate on patient with xerostomia. Furthermore, this study will assess the salivary gland function after drinking the juice.

Methods: Each subject underwent oral prophylaxis and was asked to expectorate on calibrated cylindrical cups for five minutes. The pH, salivary flow rate and buffering capacity of the collected saliva were tested and served as the control group. After resting for five minutes, the subjects were instructed to drink wheatgrass juice. The same procedures were followed to test for the salivary flow rate, pH and the buffering capacity. The t-test was used to determine the significant difference between the results.

Results: The results showed a mean value of 1.19 and 0.89 before and after drinking with a p-value of 0.075 for salivary flow rate, a mean value of 7.280 and 7.370 and p-value of 0.723 for pH, and a mean value of 5.30 and 6.40 and p-value of 0.148 for buffering capacity.

Conclusions: The study concluded that there is no significant difference before and after drinking wheatgrass juice.