ABSTRACT
Background: Periodontitis is initiated by a dysbiotic activity and furthermore leads to a chronic inflammatory response. The presence of pro-inflammatory markers plays an important role in the inflammatory load. Macrophage inflammatory protein-1 alpha (MIP-1α) and C-reactive protein (CRP) are pro- inflammatory biomarkers that quantify clinical and subclinical inflammation in cardiac ischemia in cardiac inflammation and disease. Adiponectin is an anti-inflammatory marker associated with good health. The susceptibility of periodontitis patients to cardiovascular events needs to be evaluated. Objective: This study aims to assess the levels of biomarkers in periodontitis patients with and without acute myocardial infarction (AMI) compared to controls. Material and methods: Pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory analytes were examined by collecting unstimulated saliva from three groups (n = 20/each): healthy individuals, individuals with stage III periodontitis, and post-myocardial infarction patients with stage III periodontitis. The samples were collected within 48â h of AMI. Results: Adiponectin levels were significantly lower in patients with periodontitis with and without AMI compared to controls, while CRP and MIP-1α were significantly higher in patients with periodontitis with and without AMI compared to controls. The highest titers for MIP-1α and CRP were detected among patients with periodontitis with and AMI. Conclusion: Our study provides possible evidence of the association between periodontitis and salivary analytes that occur in tandem with cardiovascular disease. The lower levels of Adiponectin and higher levels of CRP and MIP-1α in patients with periodontitis indicate that this condition is a potential risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The findings emphasize the importance of early detection and intervention for periodontitis patients to prevent cardiovascular events.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: The use of herbal dentifrices has grown exponentially over the years. They are categorically referred to as ethnomedicines. Various agents have been tried with contradicting findings based on phytopharmacological analysis. Miswak is one agent which has been used over the years. A novel Moringa oleifera-based dentifrice has shown promising results in terms of its cytotoxicity, biocompatibility, and as a potent anti-inflammatory agent. Therefore, the present study aims to compare the efficacy of two commercially available miswak- and moringa-based herbal dentifrices on the reduction of plaque and gingivitis scores. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This randomized clinical crossover study included 20 subjects with mild to moderate gingivitis. The study was conducted over a total examination period of 20 days with a wash-out period of 2 weeks between the use of both the toothpastes. The plaque index and gingival index of the study subjects were recorded at the designated time intervals throughout the study period. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The data collected were entered on Microsoft Excel, and statistical analysis using SPSS software (SPSS version 28, IBM Corp, Armonk, New York, United States) was done. The statistical test used was the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Moreover, p ≤0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: The results showed that the reduction in mean gingival index scores from baseline to day 3 was more statistically significant in the moringa-based dentifrice. Similarly, the plaque index scores showed statistically significant reduction following the use of the moringa-based dentifrice when compared with the miswak dentifrice. This study reveals that the moringa dentifrice is a safe and effective agent in reducing plaque accumulation and treating gingival inflammation. CONCLUSION: The current study aims to provide an insight into the possible role of moringa dentifrice as a possible adjunctive oral hygiene aid.
