Although both treatment strategies seemed to benefit the patients, the adjunctive use of 0.5% AZM as a controlled drug-delivery system enhanced the clinical and microbiologic results as shown by the intergroup comparison.

There are conflicting data regarding the role of interleukin (IL)-17 in periodontal health and disease. However, IL-18 levels are known to increase with the severity of periodontal disease. The present study was performed to explore the role of these proinflammatory cytokines in periodontal disease progression, and also to clarify the effect of periodontal treatment on their concentration. Sixty age- and gender-matched subjects were divided into three groups each consisting of 20 subjects on the basis of gingival index (GI), probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment loss (CAL) and radiological parameters (bone loss): healthy (group 1), gingivitis (group 2) and chronic periodontitis (group 3), while group 3 patients after treatment constituted group 4. GCF samples collected from all the groups were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to estimate the levels of IL-17 and IL-18. IL-18 levels in GCF increased proportionally with the severity of periodontal disease, and decreased after treatment. However, IL-17 levels in GCF were nearly zero. Since our data indicate an absence of IL-17 in GCF, it cannot be considered as a biomarker of periodontal disease progression, at least in Indian populations. However, IL-18 appears to be a good inflammatory biomarker.

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GCF IL-18 and MCP-1 concentrations increased in periodontal disease compared to health and correlated positively with the severity of disease. Further, based on the positive correlation of IL-18 and MCP-1 found in this study, it can be proposed that IL-18 may promote an inflammatory response by the induction of MCP-1 production and the subsequent recruitment and activation of circulating leukocytes at the inflammatory site.

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Background: Certain plants used in folk medicine serve as a source of therapeutic agent by having antimicrobial and other multi-potential effects. This prospective, randomized, placebo and positively controlled clinical trial was designed to evaluate the short-term clinical effects of a commercially available gel containing Acacia arabica in the reduction of plaque and gingival inflammation in subjects with gingivitis. Methods: Ninety subjects diagnosed with chronic generalized gingivitis were selected and randomly divided into three groups: Group I -placebo gel, Group II -gumtone gel and Group III -1% chlorhexidine gel. Clinical evaluation was undertaken using the gingival index of Loe and Silness and the plaque index at baseline, 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 6 weeks. A subjective evaluation was undertaken by questionnaire. Results: Gumtone gel showed significant clinical improvement in gingival and plaque index scores as compared to a placebo gel. This improvement was comparable to 1% chlorhexidine gel. Unlike chlorhexidine gel, gumtone gel was not associated with any discolouration of teeth or unpleasant taste. Conclusions: Gumtone gel may be a useful herbal formulation for chemical plaque control agent and improvement in plaque and gingival status.

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