Background:The aim of the study was to clinically evaluate the effect of miswak as an adjunct to tooth brushing on plaque levels and gingival health in subjects diagnosed with mild to moderate chronic generalized marginal gingivitis in comparison with those of toothbrush users.Materials and Methods:The study comprised of 30 systemically healthy subjects, aged 18-35 years diagnosed with mild to moderate gingivitis. The study was designed as a randomized, single-blind, parallel-armed study. Subjects were randomly divided into three groups. Group A (toothbrush users), group B (toothbrush and miswak users), and group C (miswak users). Subjects were advised to use toothbrush, miswak, or both, three times daily depending on their respective allocations. Gingival index according to Loe and Silness, Plaque index, according to Turesky modified Quigley-Hein plaque index, and the digital photographs of the total labial surfaces of the teeth were taken for image analysis. Recording of data were done at baseline, 2nd, 4th, 6th, and 8th week time intervals. Obtained data were analyzed using repeated measure ANOVA and student t test (independent samples).Results:Group B showed statistically significant (P<0.0001) decrease in plaque score and gingival score compared to group A and group C, respectively, from 2nd to 8th week, whereas no statistical significant difference was found in plaque score, when group A was compared with group C (P>0.05) from 2nd to 4th week. Further at the 6th and 8th week, there was significant difference (P<0.05) in plaque score between group A and group C. The difference in gingival score was not significant (P<0.05), when group A was compared with group C on all the indicated time intervals.Conclusion:Results showed significant improvement in plaque score and gingival health when miswak was used as an adjunct to tooth brushing.

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Shruthi, et al.: Immunomodulatory Effects of Gallic Acid in Swiss Albino MiceGallic acid is a triphenolic acid, widely distributed in fruits, vegetables and plants and is reported to produce antioxidant, antiinflammatory, antifungal, antiviral and antitumor effects. In the present study, immunomoduatory effect of gallic acid was tested against cyclophosphamide and cisplatin; two widely used anticancer agents induced immunosuppression in Swiss albino mice. Cyclophosphamide and cisplatin are known immunosuppressive agents, which elicit variety of immune responses. In recent years much attention is given for the identification of plants or their bioactive compounds as immunomodulators. Three different doses of gallic acid i.e., 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg weight were administered orally for 7 consecutive days. Cyclophosphamide (50 mg/kg) and cisplatin (10 mg/kg) were administered intraperitoneally as single dose. Levamisole 50 mg/kg was used as standard immunomodulatory drug. 0.5 % carboxymethyl cellulose was used as solvent control. Evaluation of immunomodulatory property of gallic acid was done by using haemagglutination antibody titre response and haematological parameters such as white blood cells, red blood cells, platelet counts and haemoglobin levels. Relative weight of thymus an important lymphoid organ was also determined. Augmentation of antibody titre values and haematological end points clearly indicated immunomodulatory effect of gallic acid against cyclophosphamide and cisplatin-induced myelosuppression in Swiss albino mice. Results indicate that, gallic acid could be used as an adjuvant with immunosuppressive drugs to reduce their adverse effects on immune system.

Gallic acid is a natural polyhydroxy-phenolic compound. The objective of this study is to evaluate the protective effects of gallic acid against chemotherapeutic drug cisplatin induced damage in bone marrow cells of mice.

HighlightsAntigenotoxic effect of septilin against cyclophosphamide (CP) an anticancer drug was evaluated in Swiss albino mice.In vivo micronucleus (MN) assays and sperm shape abnormality assay were used as test parameters.Pretreatment with septilin significantly decreased the clastogenic damage induced by CP.Protective effect of septilin may be due to the synergistic effects of individual plants/their constituents.