COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF THE EFFICACY OF TERMINALIA ARJUNA AND TETRACYCLINE DELIVERED LOCALLY AS AN ADJUNCT TO SCALING AND ROOT PLANING A CLINICOBIOCHEMICAL TRIAL

Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the periodontium caused by oral microbiota that destroy the periodontium to cause a possible tooth loss. The subgingival microbiota and immune inflammatory response of the host is responsible for triggering inflammation in periodontitis. The conventional treatment method, scaling and root planing remains primary non-surgical management of chronic periodontitis. Incorporation of systemic antimicrobial agents as an adjunct to SRP can provide improved outcomes than SRP alone. The use of locally delivered antimicrobials have various advantages over systemic administration. Tetracycline has been used to treat periodontal diseases due to its unique ability to reduce degradation of collagenous matrix by inhibiting the Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs). Many, studies have supported that novel drugs derived from herbs and certain plant extract improve periodontal health. Terminalia arjuna is one such plant. The bark extract of Terminalia arjuna shows antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidative activity even at low concentration.