Evaluation of Efficacy of 20% Nigella sativa on Gingival Health

Background: Gingivitis is a reversible inflammation of the gingiva. If it is left untreated it will progress to irreversible damage to the tissues like mobility and tooth loss. Previous studies have found that use of an antibacterial agent along with scaling and root planing is ideal for treating periodontal diseases. Nigella sativa is a herb with excellent antioxidant, antiinflammatory and antibacterial properties and hence was used in this study.

Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of 20% Nigella sativa mouthwash on gingival health in comparison to 0.12% chlorhexidine mouthwash.

Materials and Methods: The study was performed as a double-blinded, randomized controlled trial research study. A total of 30 patients were selected randomly, comprising two groups, 15 in each, aged between 18 and 28 years with gingivitis. The first group was advised to oral rinse with 0.12% chlorhexidine mouthwash and the second group with new formulated Nigella sativa herbal mouthwash for 1 week. The plaque index and gingival index scores were calculated before administering them the mouthwashes. Then subsequently after one week the plaque and gingival index scores were taken for the 30 patients. The final data was sorted in excel and statistically analysed using IBM SPSS software analysis, unpaired t-test. The results were interpreted as graphs and tabulations.

Results: The group 1 patients were found to have a mean plaque index value of 2.6±0.49 before mouthwash usage and post 1 week usage of chlorhexidine the plaque index was 1.53±0.51. The mean plaque index was 2.53±0.51 prior to usage of mouthwash in group 2 and 1.27±0.45 post usage of Nigella sativa mouthwash. The difference in plaque index between both the groups was found to be statistically non-significant (p=0.067). The mean gingival index of patients who used chlorhexidine was 2.53±0.51 before the mouthwash usage and 1.33±0.45 after mouthwash usage. In group 2 the gingival index before the mouthwash usage was 2.47±0.51 and after the mouthwash was 1.47±0.51. However the difference in gingival index between both the groups was not statistically significant (p=0.393)

Conclusion: The present study reveals that the Nigella sativa mouthwash was more effective in plaque control when compared to the standard chlorhexidine mouthwash. Herbal mouthwash shows promising results to be used as an alternative for chlorhexidine mouthwash for management of gingivitis.