Authors: Ghazala Hassan , Sarah Ghafoor , Saima Chaudhry , Zubair Ahmed Khan

Abstract

Background and Objective: Salivary level of Matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8), a collagen degradation enzyme, is known to increase during chronic periodontitis. Nigella sativa is one of the potent anti[1]inflammatory compounds that has a promising role in oral inflammatory conditions. Present study aims to explore the salivary MMP-8 levels after Nigella sativa oil-based mouth wash as compared to placebo(normal saline) after non-surgical periodontal therapy in patients with chronic periodontitis.

Methods: This parallel arm randomized controlled trial was conducted at FMH College of Medicine & Dentistry, Lahore Pakistan from January 2018 to June 2019. Fifty patients suffering from chronic periodontitis were recruited and randomized into the treatment group that received Nigella sativa oil and the control group that received simple normal saline. Salivary samples for MMP-8 levels were collected , once before non-surgical periodontal therapy and secondly after two weeks of rinsing with Nigella sativa oil-based mouthwash in one group and normal saline in the second. Salivary MMP-8 levels were determined through ELISA. The comparison within groups was done through paired t test and between groups through independent sample t-test.

Results: Mean pre-treatment concentration of salivary MMP-8 of the Nigella Sativa group and normal saline group were 199.37 ± 300.75 ng/l and 195.29 ± 175.89 ng/l that decreased post-treatment to 147.35 ± 144.9ng/l and 114.17 ± 129.21ng/l respectively. Statistical analysis revealed no difference in the salivary MMP-8 levels between the chronic periodontitis patients using Nigella sativa or normal saline mouth wash twice daily for two weeks.

Conclusion: The salivary levels of MMP-8 reduced in patients with chronic periodontitis after scaling and root planning with the use of Nigella sativa oil-based mouthwash as well as placebo (normal saline). However, this reduction was statistically non-significant both within and between the study groups.

Keywords: Nigella sativa, Chronic periodontitis, Matrix metalloproteinase-8, Saliva