Saliva as a Potential Diagnostic of Biomarker of Oral and Systemic Diseases

Abstract

Saliva is a biological fluid that is secreted by the major, minor and other accessories salivary glands. Saliva has a high potential as an indicator that reflects the health of our body. Saliva also plays an important role as a protector, lubricate oral structure with mucin, set a neutral pH through the buffer capacity, clean the oral cavity, stimulate wound healing, help the taste buds in the taste of food, facilitate the process of chewing food, form a bolus and make it easier swallowing, and minimize food particles through the activity of the enzyme amylase and lipase. The use of saliva as a biomarker in diagnosing provide more advantages than the serum and other body fluids due to using non-invasive techniques, cost-efficient, as well as methods for collecting samples for disease screening without the need to train professional personnel. The benefits derived from the saliva as a biomarker are early detection and screening of disease to the development of caries, periodontal disease, tumors and malignancy, hereditary, wound healing, autoimmune disease, infectious diseases, cardiovascular diseases, drug monitoring, forensic, and the psychological influence. At this time, the function of saliva as a diagnostic biomarker is not widely known, therefore the development of salivary further enhance because it can produce functional similarities with serum and reflect the body's physiological status in the oral cavity and systemic disease.

The effect of topical saliva application as a factor to accelerate wound healing: A review article

“…Saliva is generated by the salivary glands around the face. The glands are divided into two types, namely major salivary glands (which are parotid, submandibular, and sublingual) and minor salivary glands [1]. Saliva, which is known as a compound that is closely related to the oral cavity, is known to be an indicator of how the condition of the body as a whole.…”

“…Based on several studies tested [1,5,7,8], saliva is proven to be useful as a factor that can accelerate wound healing with topical application. Saliva is believed to be able to accelerate wound healing, especially in the proliferation phase, where it is related to the growth factors contained in saliva and plays a role in the regeneration of new Jernigan in the wound.…”

Activity of Pegagan Embun (Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides Lam.) Extracts in Capsule Dosage Form to IgM and IgG Levels in Humans

“…17 Antibodies secreted by the salivary glands include IgA, which is crucial in mucosal surface defence. 18 IgM (6%) is an antibody that activates the complement system. 19 IgD (1%) is involved in immune tolerance.…”