ABSTRACT:
Aim: The aim of this ex-vivo study was to compare the anti-collagenase activity of lavender extract to doxycycline on gingival tissue biopsies obtained from five chronic periodontitis patients who underwent periodontal flap surgeries. Background: Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by periodontal tissue damage due to an interaction between bacteria and the host immune system. The most important event in chronic periodontitis is the destruction of periodontal tissue, most importantly, collagen. Bacteria releases toxins which cause an increase in matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) as a host modulatory response. Doxycycline is the FDA approved medication for periodontitis. The use of herbal extracts for the treatment of periodontal diseases as opposed to anti-biotics seem to have minimal side-effects and are inexpensive. This study aimed to evaluate the in-vitro inhibitory effect of lavender on collagenase enzyme on gingival biopsies. Materials and Methods: Gingival tissue samples were extracted from 5 patients with chronic periodontitis. Tissue extracts were treated with the drug solution and lavender extract, the inhibition was analysed by gelatin zymography, and the percentage of inhibition was determined by sodium dodecyl sulphate-poly acrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and other gel documentation systems. Results: The activity of collagenase enzyme was markedly decreased with the use of doxycycline. Lavender showed a 40% inhibition of the enzyme collagenase activity at the concentration, 1500µg/ml and the control, doxycycline showed. Conclusion: This present study concluded that lavender extract showed significantly potent anti-collagenase activity when compared to doxycycline on gingival tissue biopsies obtained from chronic patients. Thus, it can be used as a substitute to doxycycline.