Effect of crude extract and essential oil of Cordia verbenacea in experimental periodontitis in rats

ABSTRACT

Aim: To evaluate the effect of crude extract and essential oil of Cordia verbenacea (C.V.),systemically administered, on ligature-induced periodontitis in rats. Methods: Periodontitis wasinduced in 54 Wistar rats: one of the first mandibular molars was randomly assigned to receive aligature, whereas the contralateral molar was left unligated. Then, animals were randomly assignedto one of the following groups: non-treatment group (n=18): animals that received 10 mL/day ofvehicle; C.V. extract group (n=18): animals that received 100 mg/kg/day of crude extract of C.verbenacea; and C.V. essential oil group (n=18): animals that received 100 mg/kg/day of essentialoils free of C. verbenacea. All therapies were administered orally 3 times daily, for 11 days. Next,the animals were sacrificed, and the specimens were processed for morphometric analysis. Boneloss was determined on the buccal surface of the lower first molars by the distance of thecementoenamel junction from the alveolar bone. Results: Both extract and essential oil of C.verbenacea orally administered decreased alveolar bone loss in the ligated teeth when comparedwith the non-treated group (p<0.05). Conclusions: The present study demonstrated that systemicadministration of both formulations of Cordia verbenacea may attenuate the progression of ligatureinducedperiodontitis.