Lay summary
Māori experience higher rates of gum disease and oral inflammation often made worse by barriers to access and treatments. This project explores whether kānuka hydrosol - a gentle, waterbased extract from the kānuka tree - has bioactive properties that would support safer, culturally acceptable preventive oral health care.
Led by kaitiaki Māori through the Kānuka Charitable Trust and Ngāti Kuia, the research will test whether kānuka hydrosol is safe and can reduce harmful oral bacteria and biofilms and shows biological effects relevant to gum and oral health.
This research will address a clear gap by generating high-quality public-good evidence on the safety and biological plausibility of a taonga derived, low-risk intervention. Findings will inform near-term decisions on formulation selection and progression toward Māori-led clinical feasibility or community-based health initiatives. Māori health research capability will be built through increasing Māori involvement in laboratory-based health research processes, analytical chemistry, and evidence-based decision-making.