Antiplaque and antigingivitis effect of ocimum gratissimum gel: a randomized double-blinded clinical trial

Gingivitis is an inflammation of dental protective tissues and biofilm accumulation is the main etiologic factor of this disease. Due to the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory actions shown by Ocimum gratissimum (OCG), this study aimed at evaluating the antiplaque and antigingivitis effect of 3% OCG gel in human gingivitis. Thirty volunteers were selected and subdivided in 2 groups (n=15): control (placebo gel+brushing), and test (3% OCG gel+brushing). All participants received mouth guards to apply the gel 3 times/day during 15 days. Visible Plaque Index (VPI= mean±sd %), Turesky Index (TUR= mean scores±sd) and Gingival bleeding Index (GI= mean±sd %) were performed on days 0 and 15. All the individuals, with mean age of 21.8 years, being 50% females, completed the study. In both groups, control and test, there was a reduction (p<0.05) on VPI of 51.9% and 65.1%, respectively, when compared to each respective baseline. Test showed lower VPI (p<0.05) when compared to control. TUR index corroborated VPI findings. Both experimental groups presented a decrease by 68.4% when compared to its respective baseline. Control and test groups showed reduction on GI of 59.38% and 80.9%, respectively, when compared to baseline. A greater reduction was observed in the use of 3% gel when compared to control (p<0.05). The present study indicates that 3% OCG gel associated to brushing showed antiplaque and antigingivitis effect, being important as an adjuvant to plaque-induced gingivitis treatment