Massularia acuminata (G. Don) Bullock ex Hoyle belongs in the family Rubiaceae. It is a shrub or a small tree which can be as tall as 6 metres. The bark is greyish-green on the outside, yellowish-brown when slashed. The leaves can be regarded as sessile (no stalks), oblanceolate in shape with long, acuminate tips; green at the upper surface and light-green on the lower surface. The inflorescence is borne on the axils of the leaves and they are cymes with peduncles about 1-3.5 cm; petals are pink or reddish-purple often with white margins, corolla tube greenish-white at base and a shade of pink at the top. This plant is found in the under-storey forests in some southern parts of Nigeria.
Massularia acuminata is known as pako-Ijebu in Yoruba and it is the foremost chewing stick in use. The stem is the part used as chewing stick; it is split into units less than or about 1 cm in diameter and about 10 cm in length. They are usually tied in bundles for sale. The bark usually has a pleasant bitter taste which persists for some time after use.
In a comparative study led by Emudainohwo Joseph Oghenebrorie Tedwins of the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Delta State University, Abraka, Delta State, Nigeria, microorganisms (Streptococcus oralis, Klebsiella species, Micrococcus species, Staphylococcus aureus, Lactobacillus species, Mucor, Aspergillus flavus and Giosporium, Neissera sicca) were isolated from the oral cavities of healthy undergraduate students of Delta State University, Abraka, using standard microbiological techniques. The sensitivity test, minimum inhibitory concentration, and minimum bactericidal concentration were determined.
The aqueous and ethanol extracts of Massularia acuminata had an MIC of 25 mg/mL which was similar to those of commercially-available mouth wash analysed in the study. The ethanol extract of Massularia acuminata was bactericidal against Lactobacilus species, Streptococcus oralis and Neissera sicca at a concentration of 50 mg/mL which suggests that the extract is more effective compared to the tested mouth washes (Hexedene ®, Brett ®, and Listerine ®.) Among the mouth washes, only Listerine was bactericidal against Neissera sicca at an MBC of 50 mg/ml.
This study confirmed the age-long belief that those who use Massularia acuminata regularly for their oral care have a low rate of oral infections; therefore, the extract of Massularia acuminata could be incorporated into tooth pastes or used as mouth wash for periodontal infections. In vitro studies in this research work showed that the aqueous and ethanol extracts of M. acuminata had an MIC of 25 mg/mL against all the test isolates. In conclusion, based on the above findings, all the extracts contain potential antimicrobial substances that can be used in the control of bacterial and fungal infections. This provides scientific support for the use of these natural antimicrobials in the treatment of periodontal infections.
Aderinokun, Lawoyin and Onyeaso (Odontostomatol Trop.1999:22) assessed the efficacy of two chewing sticks Massularia acuminata and Distemonanthus benthamianus, commonly used in the Yoruba community in Nigeria. Sixty 12-year-old primary school pupils were divided into three treatment groups to which tooth brushes, Pako Ijebu (Massularia acuminata) and Orin Ayan (Distemonanthus benthamianus) were assigned. At the expiration of the six weeks intervention period, post-intervention readings were taken. There was no significant difference in the oral hygiene status between those using the toothbrush and those using the chewing sticks. Slight improvements were detected in the gingival status of those using the chewing sticks relative to those in the group using toothbrush but the data did not show statistical significance. Odeleye and her group at the Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, reported sensitivity to ethanolic extracts of Massularia acuminata in 50 per cent of the isolates of Staphylococcus aureus, one of the major organisms implicated in the incidence of dental caries.
There are claims among traditional users of Pako Ijebu that it enhances male libido. Yakubu and Akanji (2011) in a report in the Journal Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine used 60 male rats completely randomised into four groups (A–D) of 15 each. Rats in group A (control) were administered with 1 ml of distilled water (the vehicle) while those in groups B, C, and D were given same volume containing 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg body weight of the extract, respectively. Sexual behaviour parameters were monitored in the male rats for day 1 (after a single dose), day 3 (after three doses, once daily), and day 5 (after five doses, once daily) by pairing with a receptive female (1: 1). The male serum testosterone concentration was also determined.
The extract at 500, and 1000 mg/kg body weight significantly increased the frequencies of mount (physical engagement) and intromission (process of introduction of the male organ into the female). In addition, the ejaculation latency (time taken for male ejaculation) was significantly prolonged. The latencies of mount and intromission were reduced significantly whereas ejaculation frequency increased. The extract also reduced the post-ejaculatory interval of the animals. Computed percentages of the indices of libido, mounted, intromitted, ejaculated and copulatory efficiency were higher in the extract-treated animals compared to the distilled water-administered control whereas the inter-copulatory interval decreased significantly.
The extract also significantly increased the serum testosterone content of the animals except in those administered with 250 mg/kg body weight on days 1 and 3. Data from this study identified that the aqueous extract of Massularia acuminata stem enhanced sexual behaviour in male rats. The improved sexual appetitive behaviour in male rats at the doses of 500 and 1000 mg/kg body weight of Massularia acuminata stem extract may be attributed, at least in part, to the alkaloids, saponins, and/or flavonoids since these phytochemicals have been reported to have engorgement, androgen-enhancing, and antioxidant properties.
It is important to note that science, in its characteristic essence, has shown that this chewing stick, Pako Ijebu, has inhibitory effects on harmful oral flora thereby preventing periodontal disease. Science has also shown that the same phytochemicals that we have been encountering in various plants are probably the active principles that we will encounter as we go on to other plant chewing sticks. The other important fact to note is that Massularia has been shown to have active ingredients that act as libido-enhancers, an observation which regular male users have made for a long time. It is interesting to note that another plant, Sphenocentrum jollyanum (akerejupon in Yoruba) is used as a libido-enhancer traditionally. The root is administered as a chewing stick although it is not intended primarily for oral health. Many of the core plants used primarily as chewing sticks have beneficial effects on other body organs and systems. The profiles of their beneficial constituents through phytochemical analyses will unravel this overlapping benefit in the plants that are used as chewing sticks.
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