To Study the Healing Effect of 0.25% Lemongrass Oil Mouthwash on Chronic Periodontitis Patients by Evaluating the Levels of Transforming Growth Factor-beta

Periodontitis is the inflammation of the tissues supporting the teeth which include cementum, gingiva, periodontal ligaments and alveolar bone. Periodontitis typically follows untreated gingivitis, a shift in the composition of biofilm from gram positive cocci to dominantly gram negative actinomyces and infection by proteolytic obligate anaerobes resulting in progressive destruction of periodontal ligament, formation of pocket around the teeth and resorption of alveolar bone with ultimately loosening or loss of teeth. The present project will be associated with very common forms of periodontitis (in which the inflammation results in periodontal tissue destruction and alveolar bone resorption) and gingivitis (in which the inflammation is confined to gingivae and is reversible with good oral hygiene). Lemongrass (Cymbopogon Citratus) oil mouthwash can be used with subgingival scaling to eliminate the pathogens of periodontitis and to treat the inflammation and the damage done to periodontium by it. It possess anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-fungal and astringent properties. Citral epoxide which is an ingredient of lemongrass extract is an active anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial agent. It is useful in dentistry and has a wide role in the treatment of periodontal diseases. Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) is a multifunctional cytokine belonging to transforming growth factor superfamily and its elevated levels are detectable in inflammatory and healing process The present project will be conducted to evaluate the expression of TGF-β levels in chronic periodontitis patients after ultrasonic scaling and using 0.25% lemongrass oil mouthwash. TGF-β is a salivary marker of periodontitis. A sample size of 30 patients either male or female aged between 40 and 60 years with chronic localized or generalized periodontitis with pocket depth of >3mm affecting at least two nonadjacent sites/teeth will be selected. This sample will be divided into two equal groups. In the experimental 1 group, only sub-gingival scaling will be performed. In the experimental 2 group, sub-gingival scaling will be performed, followed by use of 0.25% lemongrass oil mouthwash twice daily for 14 days. Saliva sample will be collected on days 0, 7 and 14 and level of salivary biomarker, TGF-β will be measured with the ELISA technique. The data will be entered and analyzed using SPSS 22. Mean ±SD will be given for quantitative variables like TGF-β level. A p value of ≤ 0.05 will be considered as statistically significant.