Study Investigates Effects of Herbal Supplements as Alternative Antimicrobial Treatment for Periodontitis

In a recent study published in the journal Microorganisms, researchers conducted a review of published literature to provide a summary of available research on phytochemicals and herbal agents as alternative or complementary therapies with conventional/ traditional treatments for the treatment of periodontitis.

The authors wrote, “This review concentrated on phytochemicals or herbal extracts that impact periodontal diseases by decreasing the formation of dental biofilms and plaques, preventing the proliferation of oral pathogens, and inhibiting bacterial adhesion to surfaces.”

The researchers searched and obtained data from Scopus and PubMed/MEDLINE databases and Google Scholar until December 2022. For this review, clinical, in vitro, and in vivo studies published within the last 30 years that examined any correlation between periodontal diseases and medicinal herbs were included.

The authors noted that research reveals that herbal medications are sometimes proposed as alternative therapies to traditional therapies for several reasons: their natural therapeutic effects, safety, lower risk of ADRs, and lower costs.

Studies also reveal that phytochemicals and extracts from traditional medicinal plants have been shown to “ reduce dental plaque deposition, inhibit the proliferation of oral pathogenic organisms, and impact their adhesion to dental surfaces, alleviating the consequences of oral diseases.”

Data from various studies of several plant-based antimicrobials in the treatments of periodontitis were discussed in the review, and examples included Acacia Arabica, Allium Sativum, Berberis Vilgaris, Cameillia Sinensis, Cinnamomum Zeylanicum (Ceylon Cinnamon), Coffee Canephora, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) and Cymbopogon citratus (Lemongrass).

Some of the findings in the review included:

• Acacia arabica has antibacterial and antiprotease properties that have been proven in vitro. The authors indicated that data from clinical studies comparing Acacia arabica gum to chlorhexidine [CHX] have established its analogous effectiveness in thwarting plaque, lessening the level of bacteria, and treating gingivitis without any ADRs associated with the use of CHX.
• Allium sativum has antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties.
• Research demonstrates that Cinnamomum zeylanicum (Ceylon Cinnamon) has anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, antioxidative, and antibacterial activities and anti-inflammatory properties.

The authors also noted that the summary of medicinal plants in this review was declared safe according to other studies; however, confirmation regarding the safety of herbal-based oral hygiene aids in dentistry is “still unsatisfactory,” and more research is needed. They wrote, “Due to the lack of knowledge regarding their modes of action, potential adverse effects, contraindications, and interactions with conventional pharmaceuticals and foods, it would not be easy to establish a rationale for the safe usage of these agents. It is, therefore, challenging to determine which therapies are the safest and most effective.”

Based on their findings, the authors concluded, “According to the review’s findings, herbal medicine is an effective alternative to contemporary medicine. There is an abundance of evidence that pure phytochemicals, essential oils, and plant extracts have the potential to be converted into medications that can be used to treat or prevent periodontitis.”

Lastly, the authors indicated that additional studies are warranted to validate the efficacy and safety of phytochemicals and herbal agents and to determine if they have any clinical benefit as a monotherapy or in conjunction with traditional therapies for periodontitis.

Source:

Mosaddad SA, Hussain A, Tebyaniyan H. Green Alternatives as Antimicrobial Agents in Mitigating Periodontal Diseases: A Narrative Review. Microorganisms. 2023; 11(5):1269. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11051269.