The Anti-Inflammatory Potency of Vitamin E and Coconut Oils on Ligature-induced Periodontitis in Albino Rats (Histological and Immunohistochemical Study)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory potency of vitamin E and coconut oils when used for oil gum massage therapy in periodontitis and compare them to the conventionally used chlorhexidine. Methods: 105 adult male albino rats were divided into 5 groups of 21 rats each: The negative control group (group 1) receiving no intervention, the positive control group (group 2) receiving ligature induced periodontitis without any treatment, the chlorhexidine experimental group (group 3) that received ligature induced periodontitis and chlorhexidine for 10 days, the vitamin E experimental group (group 4) that received ligature induced periodontitis and vitamin E for 10 days. And the coconut oil group (group 5) that received ligature induced periodontitis and coconut oil for 10 days. Groups 2-5 were further divided into subgroups A,B, and C according to day of termination (day 3, 7, &10). After rats were terminated, maxillary molar regions were excised and stained with H&E and Masson’s trichrome stain. Specimens were also examined immunohistochemically for the expression of MMP-1 antigen. Results: Histological and immunohistochemical examination showed an inflammatory reaction with ligature induced periodontitis that decreased gradually from day 3 until day 10. Statistical analysis of immunohistochemical expression of MMP-1 showed decrease over the course of treatment in all experimental groups, chlorhexidine showing the greatest decrease in inflammation and no significant difference between vitamin E and coconut oil. Conclusion: Oil gum therapy using either chlorhexidine, vitamin E, or coconut oil was associated with variable grades of statistically significant reduction of inflammation.