1.

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Rationale

Guava (Psidium guajava), is one of the most gregarious of fruit trees. A small tree to 33 ft (10 in)

high, with spreading branches, the guava is easy to recognize because of its smooth, thin, copper-colored

bark that flakes off, showing the greenish layer beneath; and also because of the attractive, "bony" aspect

of its trunk which may in time attain a diameter of 10 in (25 cm). Young twigs are quadrangular and downy.

The leaves, aromatic when crushed, are evergreen, opposite, short-petioled, oval or oblong-elliptic,

somewhat irregular in outline; 2 3/4 to 6 in (7-15 cm) long, I 'A to 2 in (3-5 cm) wide, leathery, with

conspicuous parallel veins, and more or less downy on the underside. Faintly fragrant, the white flowers,

borne singly or in small clusters in the leaf axils, are 1 in (2.5 cm) wide, with 4 or 5 white petals which are

quickly shed, and a prominent tuft of perhaps 250 white stamens tipped with pale-yellow anthers.

(https://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/guava.html)

Guava leaves are just as medicinally useful as the nutritional powerhouse fruit they grow with. The

leaves of the guava tree are full of antioxidants, anti-inflammatory agents, anti-bacterial, and even tannins

that can have significant health benefits, from treating stomach troubles to chronic diseases like cancer.

(https://www.medicaldaily.com/6-health-benefits-guava-leaves-treating-diarrhea-cancer-353666)

Anti-bacterial is an agent that interferes with the growth and reproduction of bacteria. These agents

kill or prevent bacteria by fighting against bacterial. Heat, chemicals such as chlorine, and all antibiotic

drugs have antibacterial properties. Antibiotics and anti-bacterials both attack bacteria.

(https://www.omicsonline.org/scholarly/antibacterial-agents-journals-articles-ppts-list.php)

Toothpaste is a paste or gel dentifrice used with a toothbrush to clean and maintain the aesthetics

and health of teeth. Toothpaste is used to promote oral hygiene: it is an abrasive that aids in

removing dental plaque and food from the teeth, assists in suppressing halitosis, and delivers active

ingredients (most commonly fluoride) to help prevent tooth decay (dental caries) and gum disease

(gingivitis).Salt and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) are among materials that can be substituted for
commercial toothpaste. Large amounts of swallowed toothpaste can be toxic.

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toothpaste)

Our first and main reason of studying this problem is to know the other benefits or uses of a guava

(Psidium guajava) aside from it’s a fruit that can be eaten. We also want to know if it is a good alternative

of commercial toothpastes.

1.2 Objective of the Study

1.2.1 General Objective

To determine if the guava (Psidium guajava) leaves extract can be an anti-bacterial

toothpaste.

1.2.2 Specific Objective

Specifically, the study aims:

To determine the effectiveness of guava (Psidium guajava) leaves extract as an

anti-bacterial toothpaste.

1.3 Null Hypothesis

1. There is a significant in making the guava (Psidium guajava) leaves extract as an anti-bacterial

toothpaste.

2. The guava (Psidium guajava) leaves is effective as an anti-bacterial toothpaste.

1.4 Significance of the Study

Today people faces different problems and health problems and health is one of it. Health is wealth

because without it no one would be able to work productively and therefore, there would be petite

chances and opportunities for earning and making money. To generate income, one has to work and that

cannot be done if he or she is ill and is incompetent to do physical activities. Others ignored their situation

because of monetary problems. We can notice that everything is increasing it’s price. And by that people

who are minimum wage earner are the ones who face the brunt of these society’s top problems. That is

why the researchers got an idea how to help the community.

The importance of why this research is proposed, is for us to know if the guava (Psidium guajava)

leaves extract can effectively be an anti-bacterial toothpaste. This study can help because, instead of

buying commercial toothpaste which costs a lot, and also has chemicals that can harm or that has side

effects on one’s dental health. People can use guava leaf extract as an alternative and organic toothpaste.

A budget-friendly toothpaste with no chemicals added.

1.5 Scope and Limitations of the Study

The scope of this study is to only make use of guava leaves extract and know if it is effective as an

anti-bacterial toothpaste.

1.6 Definition of Terms

Anti-bacterial is an agent that interferes with the growth and reproduction of bacteria.

(https://www.omicsonline.org/scholarly/antibacterial-agents-journals-articles-ppts-list.php)
 Guava (Psidium guajava), is one of the most gregarious of fruit trees.

(https://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/guava.html)

Guava (Psidium guajava) leaves are just as medicinally useful as the nutritional powerhouse fruit

they grow with. (https://www.medicaldaily.com/6-health-benefits-guava-leaves-treating-diarrhea-cancer-

353666)

Toothpaste is a paste or gel dentifrice used with a toothbrush to clean and maintain the aesthetics

and health of teeth. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toothpaste)