Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Eugenia Jambolana on Epithelial Thickness in Induced Gingivitis

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to correlate the histological changes in gingival epithelium, after tropical application of Eugenia jambolana and to observe the effect of Eugenia jambolana extract on the thickness of epithelium on induced gingivitis in albino rats.

Material and Methods: This experimental study was conducted in the animal house, Anatomy Department, Post Graduate Medical Institute, Lahore, Pakistan. A total of 48 albino rats were selected and were further divided into three main groups i.e. Group A (Control; healthy mucosa, no intervention), Group B (Experimental B; inflamed mucosa with an application of extract), and Group C (Experimental C; inflamed mucosa with no intervention) having 4 subgroups each based on the number of days i.e. 3^rd, 4^th, 10^th and 20^th day. Histological changes in the buccal mucosa were observed on the respective days, after inducing the gingivitis in both the control and experimental group.

Results: Results were recorded on the 3^rd, 4^th, 10^th and 20^th days. On the 3^rd day, signs of severe gingivitis appeared in both experimental groups 1B and 1C. An epithelial thickness of 12.00±2.160µm was observed in group 1B and, 10.2/5±1.708 µm in group 1C. On day 4th, in group-2B, the epithelial thickness was 12µm±1.633µm. The epithelial thickness was 10.25µm±1.708µm in group C. On day 10^th, group 3B exhibited, a thickness of 20.00 µm±1.633µm. In group 3C, the thickness of epithelium was 23.75µm±1.258µm. On day 20^th, the thickness was 23µm ±1.155µm in group 4B. In group 4C, the thickness was 24µm ±1.414µm.

Conclusion: This study proved the beneficial effects of Eugenia jambolana on the healing of gingivitis. The contents in Eugenia jambolana have an anti-inflammatory action on soft tissues which could be beneficial to treat gingivitis.