Objective. This study investigates the antibacterial effect of essential oil extracted from the gum of Pistacia atlantica Kurdica against Porphyromonas gingivalis and histological evaluation of an experimental gel of the extract in wound healing in the back subcutaneous tissue of Wistar rats. Methods. Clinical strains of bacteria obtained from subgingival plaque samples of individuals having periodontitis, isolation, and confirmation were done by conventional microbiological tests and molecular technique. Essential oil was extracted by using hydrodistillation method; antibacterial activity has been determined by two fold serial dilution method. Histological evaluation conducted on fifteen Wistar rats. Incisions were made on the dorsal surface of each animal for implanting of 3 polysilicone tubes (empty, tetracycline gel, and the experimental gel). After 1, 4, and 8 weeks, the animals were euthanized and the specimens were prepared histologically. Result. The extract demonstrated antimicrobial effect and significant wound healing in the different study durations particularly our product showed progression in epidermal wound healing and decrease in cellularity and scoring of inflammatory cells. Conclusion. The extract was able to pose inhibitory and bactericidal activity against P. gingivalis and the experimental gel was able to have a good wound healing that enable it to be considered as a compatible material.

Background/purpose Curcumin has anti-inflammatory impacts and was suggested as an inflammatory disease therapy. This study aimed to investigate the implications of curcumin gel on experimental periodontitis (EPD) and alveolar bone loss in rats. Materials and methods In this study, twenty-four male Wistar rats were divided equally into four groups: negative control (with no EPD); positive control (EPD induced around lower centrals without treatment); control-treated group: EPD treated with chlorhexidine; and test EPD group treated with curcumin. After 30 days, the serum concentrations of RANKL and IL-1β were measured via ELISA. All animals were sacrificed, and mandibular central incisors with the periodontium were removed. The lingual probing depth and radiographical alveolar bone loss were measured, then samples processed for routine preparation of H&E stained sections and histologically assessed for counting inflammatory cells, osteoclasts, and PDL width. Results A significant decrease in the inflammatory cells infiltration, probing depth, and osteoclast numbers with the improvement of PDL associated with a reduction in RANKL and IL-1β serum concentration were seen in both EPD treated groups. Conclusion Curcumin is as effective as chlorhexidine in treating experimental periodontitis in rats. It was demonstrated to stop bone destruction related to periodontitis by regulating the RANKL and IL-1β markers level in the blood.

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of local application of essential oil of Pistacia atlantica kurdica (EOK) gel in treatment of experimentally induced periodontitis in rats and its effect on osteoclastogenic bone markers. Twenty-four male Wistar rats of 250 to 350 g were used in this study and were allocated into four groups. Control negative (without induced periodontitis), control positive (induced experimental periodontitis left without treatment), treatment control (induced experimental periodontitis and treated with Chlorhexidine gel) and EOK treated group (induced experimental periodontitis treated with EOK gel). The animals were sacrificed after 30 days, and the mandibular central incisor and surrounding tissue were dissected from the mandible and further processed for preparing H&E slides. Inflammatory cells, osteoclast cells, and periodontal ligament (PDL) were examined and measured histologically. Finally, the mean concentrations of both markers, receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-Β ligand (RANKL) and (Interleukin-1β) IL-1β, were analyzed by ELISA. A significant reduction of inflammatory reaction and osteoclast numbers with improvement of PDL and low mean concentrations of RANKL and IL-1β were seen in the EOK treated group in comparison to the control group and the chlorhexidine group as well. The extract showed a protective effect in the healing of periodontitis that had been induced in rats and decreased bone resorption by down regulation of serum RANKL and IL-1β markers.

This study aimed to investigate the antibacterial and antibiofilm activities of the essential oils of Cuminum cyminum (CEO) and Foeniculum vulgare (FEO) on the clinically isolated Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) and Prevotella intermedia (P. intermedia). Subgingival plaque samples were collected from periodontal pockets (≥6 mm) of patients with generalized severe periodontitis. Microbiological and molecular tests were performed to isolate and confirm P. intermedia. A previously isolated P. gingivalis was used. The hydrodistillation method was used to extract the CEO and FEO. The antibacterial activity of the examined oils against the confirmed clinical strains was determined using the disc diffusion and broth dilution methods to determine the minimum inhibitory (MIC) and bactericidal concentrations (MBC). The antibiofilm properties of CEO and FEO were determined using the tube method. The t-test was used for comparisons of inhibition zones. Both CEO and FEO presented inhibition zones against both clinically isolated bacteria. The CEO and FEO revealed antibacterial activity with MIC values of 3.125 µL/mL and MBC of 6.25 µL/mL against P. gingivalis, respectively. In addition, their MIC and MBC against P. intermedia were 0.195 µL/mL and 3.125 µL/mL, respectively. Finally, the essential oils showed moderate to strong antibiofilm activities against the clinically isolated P. gingivalis and P. intermedia, respectively. This study supports the antibacterial and antibiofilm properties of CEO and FEO against clinically isolated P. gingivalis and P. intermedia. Further studies should focus on using these essential oils as an adjunct to periodontal therapy.

Background: Melanin pigmentation of the gingiva appears in all ethnicities. Excessive pigmentation is an esthetic concern that has increased awareness about depigmentation procedures. This epidemiological study aims to find the correlation between skin color and gingival pigmentation in Sulaimani Governorate, Kurdistan/Iraq. Subjects and Methods: A total of 820 apparently healthy and non-smokers, including 338 males and 482 females with healthy gingiva, aged between (18-40 years old) were enrolled in this study. Clinical examination on the participants’ gingivae was performed to assess color, and the distribution of pigmentations. Afterward the of participants skin color were visually examined and divided into six groups according to the Fitzpatrick scale. Results: Skin color of (53%) of our participants was medium to light brown. Most of the pigmentations were observed in the attached gingiva and interdental papilla (26.83%) and least being in the marginal gingiva and interdental papilla (9.27%). A statistically significant correlation was found between the participants’ skin color, and the intensity of their gingival pigmentations   Conclusion: Darker-skinned subjects haveeavieringival pigmentation compared toair-skinned people in Sulaimani Governorate, Kurdistan/ Iraq. The intensity of gingival pigmentation increases with age with the highest rate of gingival pigmentation was in the upper and lower second premolar to premolar area.