Synthesis and characterization of artificial saliva using Abelmoschus esculentus

Saliva is a biological fluid that plays many roles, such as cleansing, lubrication, mucosal integrity, buffering, remineralization, digestion, and antimicrobial activity. Xerostomia is a clinical condition characterized by the sensation of dry mouth. Patients with chronic or temporary dry mouth sensations require treatment to relieve symptoms. Synthesis of artificial saliva is important for this purpose. The as-prepared artificial saliva closely resembled natural saliva. However, locally manufactured salivary substitutes are of porcine origin. Therefore, it is necessary to synthesize saliva from a substance with a quality similar to that of mucin. This study aimed to synthesize artificial saliva using the edible herb, Abelmoschus esculentus. In this study, the minerals and antimicrobial substances present in human saliva were replaced by adding different salts and beneficial components in Abelmoschus esculentus. Viscosity, pH, surface tension, relative density, UV-vis absorbance, FTIR, and wetting time were studied. [GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT]