Curcumin Effect on the Prevention of Gingival Overgrowth Following Phenytoin Consumption in Rats: A Clinicohistological and Immunohistochemical Study

Abstract

Aim: At the moment there is no clear evidence with clinico-histological and immunohistochemical studies in animals to show the curcumin effect on the gingival overgrowth following phenytoin consumption. The purpose of the present study was to identify this subject. Materials and methods: In this experimental study, 50 adult male Wistar rats were divided into three groups. The rats in groups I and II received 100 mg/kg of phenytoin per day. Group II also received 20 mg/kg intraperitoneal curcumin per day. The control group received the curcumin vehicle only. Gingival clinical dimensions were measured at the beginning and end of the study. The rats were then sacrificed, biopsy of gingiva was prepared, and the samples were stained with hematoxylin-eosin. Morphometry was performed to evaluate the degree of inflammation, epithelial thickness, number, and cross-sectional area of the blood vessels. Immunohistochemical staining was performed using Ki67 and α-SMA. Results: Compared to the control group, Phenytoin in group I increased gingival volume. There was significance difference in group II with group I and control after intervention in the clinical view (p = 0.002). The difference in the number of blood vessels between groups I and II was statistically significant (p = 0.001). Significant differences were observed in blood vessel cross-sectional area (p = 0.001), epithelial thickness (p = 0.002), Ki67, and α-SMA expression between groups I and II (p = 0.001). Conclusion:In rats, curcumin seems to exerts its effects in preventing an increase in gingival volume caused by Phenytoin through decreasing the inflammatory infiltration, decreasing the number of blood vessels and increasing their cross-sectional area, decreasing the thickness of the epithelium, and decreasing the expression of Ki67 and α-SMA. Clinical significance: It is suggested that curcumin may be effective in treatment of gingival enlargement following Phenytoin consumption in future. Larger sample size and clinical trials study are recommended.

From Simple Mouth Cavities to Complex Oral Mucosal Disorders—Curcuminoids as a Promising Therapeutic Approach

“…217 Furthermore, curcumin could decrease phenytoin-induced gingival expansion by decreasing the expression of Ki67 and alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), inflammation, epithelial thickness, and number of blood vessels with an increase in cross-sectional area. 218 The treatment of curcumin could be effectively used to control the plaque spread which might be due to its anti-inflammatory action in the gingivitis. 219,220 ■ ORAL CANCER Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most frequent malignant tumors of the oral cavity associated with high incidence and mortality rates worldwide.…”

“…Another study evaluated the efficiency of intragastric administration of curcumin where it was observed to reduce the alveolar bone loss through the abridged expression of inflammatory mediators like receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB (RANK), RANKL, and OPG . Furthermore, curcumin could decrease phenytoin-induced gingival expansion by decreasing the expression of Ki67 and alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), inflammation, epithelial thickness, and number of blood vessels with an increase in cross-sectional area . The treatment of curcumin could be effectively used to control the plaque spread which might be due to its anti-inflammatory action in the gingivitis. , …”