Nigella sativa oil as a treatment for gingivitis: A randomized active-control trial

Objective: To assess the clinical anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial efficacy of Nigella sativa oil compared with chlorhexidine in patients with gingivitis. Methods: A double-blind, randomized clinical trial was conducted in patients having chronic generalized gingivitis. Patients were randomly assigned to receive Nigella sativa oil(n=18) or chlorhexidine(n=19). The following assessments were made on day 0 and day 15: plaque index, gingival index, gingival IL-6 and IL-18 levels were measured using ELISA, plaque colony-forming units, and alpha-hemolytic Streptococcus strains. Data were analyzed using parametric and non-parametric tests and Fisher’s exact test.Results: Both interventions reduced plaque index and gingival index scores(P<0.000 1). The Nigella sativa oil group was better at lowering IL-6(P=0.007 6) than the chlorhexidine group(P=0.145), although there was no change in IL-18 levels(P>0.05). The post-intervention plaque index and gingival index scores and inflammatory cytokine levels between the two groups were not significantly different. Both interventions caused a significant reduction in the plaque colony-forming units(P<0.000 1), reducing pathogenic bacteria: Streptococcus mitis, Streptococcus oralis, Streptococcus sanguinis, and Streptococcus parasanguinis in the chlorhexidine group(50%)(P=0.103 1), and the Nigella sativa oil group(20%)(P=0.739 5). Conclusions: Nigella sativa oil had anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activities, reducing biofilm formation and disrupting the colonization of pathogenic bacteria essential for the progression of periodontal disease. Nigella sativa oil could offer an alternative therapy for treating gingivitis and may prevent associated systemic diseases and improve overall health outcomes.

Role of salivary matrix metalloproteinase-8 （MMP-8） in chronic periodontitis diagnosis

Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease of the periodontium. Any imbalance between the matrix metalloproteinases （MMPs） secreted by neutrophils and tissue inhibitors initiates the destruction of collagen in gum tissue, leading to chronic periodontitis. This study aimed to correlate salivary levels of MMP-8 and periodontal parameters of chronic periodontitis to establish MMP-8 as a noninvasive marker for the early diagnosis of chronic periodontitis. The study involved 40 subjects visiting the periodontic OPD of Dr. Ziauddin Ahmad Dental College and Hospital, located in Aligarh, U.P., India, from 2011 to 2012. The subjects were divided into two groups： group I consisted of 20 periodontally healthy subjects （controls） while group II consisted of 20 patients with chronic periodontitis. Chronic periodontitis was assessed on the basis of several periodontal parameters, including pocket probing depth （PPD）, clinical attachment level （CAL）, gingival index （GI）, and plaque index （PI）. Around 3 ml of unstimulated and whole expectorated saliva was collected for MMP-8 estimation by ELISA using Quantikine human total MMP-8 immunoassay kits. Data were analyzed using STATISTICA （Windows version 6） software. Salivary MMP-8 levels of groups I and II were 190.91 ± 143.89 ng/ml and 348.26± 202.1 ng/ml, respectively. The MMP-8 levels and periodontal status （PPD, CAL, GI, and PI） of groups I and II showed positive and significant correlations （for PPD, r = 0.63, P 〈 0.001; for CAL, r = 0.54, P 〈 0.001; for GI, r = 0.49, P 〈 0.001; and for PI, r = 0.63, P 〈 0.001）. The results of this study demonstrate elevated concentrations of MMP-8 in individuals with chronic periodontitis.