Holistic Healing Through Herbs: Effectiveness of Aloe Vera on Post Extraction Socket Healing

Efficacy of a novel combination of aloe vera gel and pineapple extracts in improving post-extraction pain and healing: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background

Absorbable gelatin sponges are able to reduce the incidence of post-extraction complications when soaked with antimicrobial agents. However, the drawbacks associated with the injudicious use of antibiotics warrant the need to explore alternatives to the existing drugs. Aim: The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of an absorbable gelatin sponge soaked in a combination of aloe vera and pineapple extracts in reducing post-operative pain and improving the healing rate following dental extractions.

Material and Methods

Patients aged 18 to 60 years undergoing a single dental extraction of a posterior tooth were provided with either plain absorbable gelatin sponge (control group) or absorbable gelatin sponge soaked in freshly prepared solution of aloe vera gel and pineapple extracts. The pain levels were measured after one, three, seven, and fourteen days post-extraction. The socket healing status was evaluated by Landry Turnbull and Howley Index after one and two weeks post-extraction respectively.

Results

The mean pain was significantly less (p<0.05) for patients in the experimental group on the 1st, 3rd, and 7th postoperative days as compared to the patients in the control group. No significant differences (p>0.05) were observed in the healing status between the two groups at any time interval.

Conclusions

The present study found the combination of aloe vera gel and pineapple extracts to be effective in reducing post-operative pain following dental extractions. While the improvement in the healing rate failed to reach statistical significance in the present study, generally less inflammation was observed in sockets treated with absorbable gelatin sponge soaked in the a combination of aloe vera and pineapple extracts. Key words:Post-extraction pain, Socket healing, Aloe Vera, Bromelain.

Herbal and nano-based herbal medicine: New insights into their therapeutic aspects against periodontitis

Objective

Periodontitis is a type of prevalent chronic inflammatory disorder resulting in a failure in the function of tissues supporting the tooth, like gingiva, alveolar bone, and periodontal ligament. Although antibiotic therapy is a common therapy for periodontitis cases, this approach can cause some adverse effects in these patients. Thus, finding an effective curative option with low side effects is still a puzzle.

Materials and Methods

This narrative review was conducted on the effects of herbal and nano-based herbal medicine against periodontitis by searching different databases such as Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Science Direct, and Scientific Information Databases.

Results

According to published studies, some popular herbal formulations, such as Aloe vera, curcumin, Melaleuca alternifolia, and Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, can be effective in periodontitis treatment. However, these herbal products may be accompanied by some pharmacological limitations, such as poor bioavailability, instability, and weak water solubility. On the other hand, harnessing nano-based herbal formulations can elevate the bioavailability, diminish toxicity, and omit repeated administration of drugs.

Conclusion

Herbal and nano-based herbal products can create a good chance to treat periodontitis efficiently.

Evaluation of healing in mandibular molar extraction sockets with and without turmeric gel

Context

In the present era of allopathic medication usage, there is always a risk of toxicity. Turmeric is a wonderful natural herb with excellent healing properties and a plethora of many clinical trials in dentistry. Hence, this study aims to evaluate the efficacy of healing in mandibular molar extraction sockets with and without turmeric gel.

Aim

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of turmeric gel with the objective of analyzing the soft tissue healing in mandibular molar extraction sockets with and without turmeric gel.

Settings and Design

The split-mouth study design with randomization of the sites was done using the sequentially numbered opaque sealed envelope (SNOSE) in the same patient indicated for bilateral lower molar extraction. A total of 50 patients were included in the study, who were divided into group A, 25 patients in the experimental site using turmeric gel, and group B, 25 patients in the control site without turmeric gel.

Materials and Methods

Turmeric in the form of gel was used in the experimental site to evaluate its efficacy in soft tissue healing of the mandibular molar extraction socket. The extraction sites of the same patient were evaluated for soft tissue healing on postoperative day 1, day 7, and day 21 using Landry, Turn Bell, and Howley scale.

Statistical Analysis

A comparison of soft tissue healing between group A and group B, which showed a consequential difference in group A on day 7 with P = 0.001 and day 21 with P = 0.001, was significant.

Results

Results revealed postoperative day 1 showed a significant beginning of healthy granulation tissue formation in both the groups. There was a consequential difference in soft tissue healing in group A on postoperative day 7 and day 21 as compared to group B. The turmeric in the form of gel proved to enhance the soft tissue healing in the mandibular molar extraction socket.

Conclusions

The present study revealed that enhanced soft tissue healing of the extraction socket of the mandibular molar was present in the turmeric gel group on postoperative day 7 and day 21 than in without the turmeric gel group.

Insight of Ethnomedicines in Dentistry: A Brief Review

Ethnomedicines in the literature compare the therapeutic efficacy of various herbs based on active ingredients of plants and animals. The application of phytomedicines in the field of dentistry is uncommon. The main objective of this article is to access the efficacy of ethnomedicines and newly evolving treatment modalities in reducing post-op complications following dentoalveolar surgeries. Inclusion criteria were selected according to the population, intervention, control, and outcomes (PICO) format. Case reports, case series, retrospective studies, and studies with inappropriate reporting of outcomes were all excluded. An electronic search of English literature in PubMed was performed using the keywords Ethnomedicine, Anti-inflammatory, Analgesics, Therapeutic herbs, Herbal mouthwashes, Third molar surgery. A total of 25 articles were selected, of which three were on herbal mouthwashes and 22 were on anti-inflammatory effect. All the articles were regarding the therapeutic effect of the herbs. The present paper studies various traditionally used therapeutic herbs, their benefits, and shortcomings with their application in dentistry. This study has shown the different herbal alternatives to conventionally used drugs in relation to third molar.

Effects of 3% binahong ( Anredera cordifolia) leaf extract gel on alveolar bone healing in post-extraction tooth socket wound in Wistar rats ( Rattus norvegicus)

Background: Binahong ( Anredera cordifolia (Ten.) STEENIS) is a widely available herbal plant in Indonesia and has been intensely researched for its healing abilities due to its biological activities, but few have studied its capability in accelerating hard tissue healing in post-extraction tooth sockets. The purpose of this study was to analyse the effects of 3% binahong leaf extract gel on alveolar bone healing in post-extraction sockets in Wistar rats. Methods: In this study, 48 male Wistar rats were randomly allocated to twelve groups. After the extraction of the left mandibular incisor, sockets in Group I to IV were given 3% binahong leaf extract gel, group V to VIII were given a control gel, and group IX to XII were given Gengigel ® for 14 days. The residual socket volume (RSV) and fibroblast proliferation were observed on the 3 rd, 7 th, and 14 th day post-extraction, while the osteoblast and osteocyte proliferation were observed on the 7 th, 14 th, and 28 th day post-extraction. The RSV data were analysed using repeated measure ANOVA and one-way ANOVA, while the histopathological data were analysed using one-way ANOVA. Results: The results showed that the binahong group had the lowest RSV and the highest fibroblast proliferation compared to the other groups on the 7th day (p<0.05) and the highest osteoblast and osteocyte proliferation compared to the other groups on the 14 th day (p<0.05). Conclusion: The experiment showed that 3% binahong leaf extract gel could accelerate wound closure, which was characterized by a greater decrease in the RSV value in comparison to the other treatment groups and could enhance alveolar bone healing by increasing the proliferation of fibroblasts, osteoblasts, and osteocytes.

The Effectiveness of Advanced Platelet-Rich Fibrin in comparison with Leukocyte-Platelet-Rich Fibrin on Outcome after Dentoalveolar Surgery

METHODS

The study included 60 patients according to sample size calculation, recruited from patients seeking tooth extraction at oral and maxillofacial surgery clinic at Umm Al-Qura University, Faculty of Dentistry. Patients were divided into three groups. Group Ӏ included 20 patients managed by advanced platelet-rich fibrin after extraction. Group ӀӀ included 20 patients managed by leukocyte-platelet-rich fibrin after tooth extraction. Group ӀII included 20 patients left without any addition. Each group was further subdivided into surgical and nonsurgical extraction. Afterwards, patients in each group were assessed for postextraction pain by VAS, number of analgesics, and early soft tissue healing by LWHI.

RESULTS

The study outcomes demonstrate that the use of A-PRF significantly reduces postoperative pain in the 1st and 2nd day. VAS pain scores on the first day were significantly higher in the control surgical extraction group and L-PRF nonsurgical extraction group. In early soft tissue healing. The Landry Wound Healing Index (LWHI) was used after 1 and 2 weeks of extraction to evaluate the extraction site. In first week, the A-PRF group and L-PRF group (nonsurgical extraction) had a better healing index when compared to control group, and A-PRF group (surgical extraction) had a best healing index when compared to L-PRF and control groups. In the second week, individuals in the A-PRF group (surgical and nonsurgical extraction) had a better healing index when compared to L-PRF and control groups.

Pharmacological Update Properties of Aloe Vera and its Major Active Constituents

Aloe vera has been traditionally used to treat skin injuries (burns, cuts, insect bites, and eczemas) and digestive problems because its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and wound healing properties. Research on this medicinal plant has been aimed at validating traditional uses and deepening the mechanism of action, identifying the compounds responsible for these activities. The most investigated active compounds are aloe-emodin, aloin, aloesin, emodin, and acemannan. Likewise, new actions have been investigated for Aloe vera and its active compounds. This review provides an overview of current pharmacological studies (in vitro, in vivo, and clinical trials), written in English during the last six years (2014–2019). In particular, new pharmacological data research has shown that most studies refer to anti-cancer action, skin and digestive protective activity, and antimicrobial properties. Most recent works are in vitro and in vivo. Clinical trials have been conducted just with Aloe vera, but not with isolated compounds; therefore, it would be interesting to study the clinical effect of relevant metabolites in different human conditions and pathologies. The promising results of these studies in basic research encourage a greater number of clinical trials to test the clinical application of Aloe vera and its main compounds, particularly on bone protection, cancer, and diabetes.

Advances in Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Engineering: Innovation and Transformation of Medicine

Humans and animals lose tissues and organs due to congenital defects, trauma, and diseases. The human body has a low regenerative potential as opposed to the urodele amphibians commonly referred to as salamanders. Globally, millions of people would benefit immensely if tissues and organs can be replaced on demand. Traditionally, transplantation of intact tissues and organs has been the bedrock to replace damaged and diseased parts of the body. The sole reliance on transplantation has created a waiting list of people requiring donated tissues and organs, and generally, supply cannot meet the demand. The total cost to society in terms of caring for patients with failing organs and debilitating diseases is enormous. Scientists and clinicians, motivated by the need to develop safe and reliable sources of tissues and organs, have been improving therapies and technologies that can regenerate tissues and in some cases create new tissues altogether. Tissue engineering and/or regenerative medicine are fields of life science employing both engineering and biological principles to create new tissues and organs and to promote the regeneration of damaged or diseased tissues and organs. Major advances and innovations are being made in the fields of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine and have a huge impact on three-dimensional bioprinting (3D bioprinting) of tissues and organs. 3D bioprinting holds great promise for artificial tissue and organ bioprinting, thereby revolutionizing the field of regenerative medicine. This review discusses how recent advances in the field of regenerative medicine and tissue engineering can improve 3D bioprinting and vice versa. Several challenges must be overcome in the application of 3D bioprinting before this disruptive technology is widely used to create organotypic constructs for regenerative medicine.