Evaluation of Efficacy of 4% Ocimum sanctum Gel in the Management of Chronic Periodontitis

Abstract

ABSTRACT Aim: The present experimental study was performed with the aim of assessing the efficacy of Ocimum sanctum (OS) gel as an adjunct to scaling and root planing (SRP) in the management of chronic periodontitis. Materials and Methods: Minimum inhibitory concentrations and minimum bactericidal concentration of OS on Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia (Pi), Fusobacteria nucleatum, and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans was carried out as a pilot study. Further, a total of 60 patients (mean age of 34.5 ± 8.3 years) were enrolled in this study (n = 30 in each group). In the control group (A), Phase I periodontal therapy was performed, whereas in the test group (B), 4% OS gel was inserted into the pockets at baseline after the same. The clinical parameters recorded included plaque index (PI), sulcus bleeding index, probing depth, and clinical attachment level were recorded at baseline and after 45 days. Results: The results obtained by in vivo assessment following the placement of 4% OS gel demonstrated that the mean PI score at baseline was 2.29 ± 0.21, which was reduced to 0.97 ± 0.293 at the 45th day (P = 0.001) for Group A, whereas it was 2.18 ± 0.22, which was reduced to 1.46 ± 0.29 at the 45th day (P = 0.001) for Group B. The mean Modified Sulcular Bleeding Index score at baseline was 3.56 ± 0.77, which was reduced to 1.55 ± 0.62 at the 45th day after local drug delivery of OS gel for Group A, whereas it was 3.08 ± 0.69, which was reduced to 1.45 ± 0.51 at the 45th day (P < 0.001). The difference between Group A and Group B was statistically not significant (P > 0.05). The mean probing depth at baseline was 8.07 ± 1.60, which was reduced to 4.83 ± 1.38 for Group A (P < 0.001), whereas it was 7.50 ± 1.63 at baseline and 5.68 ± 1.29 at the 45th day for Group B (P < 0.001). The mean clinical attachment level at baseline was 4.26 ± 1.02, which was reduced to 2.78 ± 0.84 for Group A at the 45th day (P < 0.001), whereas it was 4.05 ± 1.08 at baseline and 3.27 ± 0.97at the 45th day for Group B (P < 0.001). The difference between Group A and Group B was statistically highly significant (P < 0.01). Conclusions: The subgingival delivery of 4% OS gel can be used as an adjunct to SRP for superior clinical outcomes in chronic periodontitis cases as compared to SRP alone. CLINICAL RELEVANCE TO INTERDISCIPLINARY DENTISTRY This study emphasizes the anti-inflammatory role of Ocimum sanctum in nonsurgical management of periodontal infection which need to be tackled before any other procedures of orthodontics, prosthetic or restorative dentistry.