Evaluation of aloe vera gel as a local drug delivery agent in the treatment of chronic periodontitis: A clinical and microbiological study

Abstract

Abstract Background: Local delivery of antibacterial agents into periodontal pockets provides a multitude of benefits over systemic antimicrobials resulting in the increased preference for such use among periodontal health-care providers. Aim: The study aims to determine the antimicrobial efficacy of adjunctive use of the herbal extract “aloe vera gel” (Aloe vera (L.) Burm. f.) along with scaling and root planing (SRP) in patients with chronic periodontitis. Materials and methods: This prospective, single-blind randomized split-mouth clinical trial was done among 22 subjects diagnosed with chronic periodontitis. Periodontal parameters and mean log counts of porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) evaluated using real-time polymerase chain reaction were recorded. SRP was performed both at control and test sites. The evaluation of clinical and microbiological parameters was done at baseline and 3 months’ post-intervention. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) V.20 software. Results: While significant improvement in both clinical and microbiological parameters from baseline to three months was observed in both the test and control sites, the mean reduction in plaque index, periodontal pocket depth, and mean log colony-forming unit counts of P. gingivalis were significantly higher in the test sites compared to the control sites. Conclusion: The results of this study reject the null hypothesis in favor of the alternative hypothesis that adjunctive application of locally delivered aloe vera gel for the treatment of chronic periodontitis enhances the beneficial effects of mechanical therapy.