Mint and Garlic

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Why do they put mint in toothpaste? Would Garlic be better?

Aim

To investigate the different antibacterial properties of mint and garlic to determine which ones are the most appropriate and will work best in toothpaste.

Hypothesis

I predict that the mint will be most affective as an antibacterial defence as it is already commonly used in toothpaste and must therefore be better when fighting microorganisms. It also is used in 'Bonjela' and contains menthol, which can act as a local anaesthetic property.

Null Hypothesis

There will be no significant difference between mint and garlic on their effect in inhibiting bacterial growth.

Method

Firstly spread E-coli onto agar plates, being careful not to touch it or leave it exposed to the air for a long time. To spread the E-coli use a wire loop, and spread evenly. After using the loop, burn it under a Bunsen burner until glows red in order to kill bacteria. To guarantee safety use aseptic technique. After this has been prepared, weigh out 3g of garlic plant material and 3g or mint plant material, putting them in separate mortars and using a pestle to crush them. Next,