dc.description.abstract | Objective: Periodontitis is an infectious disease that results in gingiva tissue damage. This study aimed to evaluate
the effects of Nigella sativa (N. sativa) toothpaste in a periodontitis tissue repair based on inflammation and
periodontal extracellular matrix in vivo.
Design: The periodontitis disease model was developed using Wistar rats infected with Porphyromonas gingivalis
(P. gingivalis). The rats were divided into three main groups as follows: those that did not receive any toothpaste
treatment; those that were treated with N. sativa toothpaste twice a day (simultaneously with P. gingivalis induction); and normal healthy rats. The rats were sacrificed after 1 and 7 days of animal modeling. The number of
inflammatory cells, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)1 + and MMP8 + cells, levels of cytokines (interleukin-1β
(IL-1β) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2)) and density of collagen type 1 were determined in the gingival tissues of
the rats.
Results: The rats treated with N. sativa toothpaste had significantly lower numbers of neutrophils, macrophages
and lymphocytes than the non-treated rats after 1 and 7 days of treatment; likewise, the levels of IL-1β and PGE2
were lower in the treated experimental rats. In addition, the group treated with N. sativa toothpaste had fewer
numbers of MMP1 + and MMP8 + cells and higher collagen density after 1 and 7 days of administration.
Conclusions: N. sativa toothpaste exhibited anti-inflammatory effects by reducing both inflammatory cell count
and activity. Additionally, N. sativa toothpaste demonstrated anti-destructive effects on the periodontal extracellular matrix. Thus, N. sativa toothpaste might be potentially used for the management of periodontitis. | en_US |