European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

EFFECTIVENESS OF BARBERRY EXTRACT DENTAL GEL IN CONTROLLING GINGIVITIS, DENTAL PLAQUE AND GLYCEMIC PROFILE IN TYPE II DIABETES: A DOUBLE BLINDED RANDOMISED PLACEBO CONTROLLED TRIAL

*Dheeraj D. Kalra, Divyakshi Motwani and Sachi M. Bhoir

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Periodontitis is a common oral manifestation in diabetes. Barberry is a herb which has been used in traditional medicine due to its anti-inflammatory, febrifugal, hypotensive and immunomodulatory effects. Thus the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a dental gel containing Barberry extract in controlling gingivitis, dental plaque, as well as glycosylated haemoglobin levels in type II diabetes. Materials and Method: The present study was a double blinded randomised parallel arm placebo controlled trial carried out among 80 subjects. Participants in Group A received a placebo gel with oral hygiene instructions and those in group B received barberry extract dental gel with oral hygiene instructions. Plaque index, gingival index, gingival bleeding indices were assessed at baseline, one and two months of follow up where as HbA1c levels were assessed at baseline and six months of follow up. Results: It was observed that barberry extract gel was more effective than placebo gel in the reduction of HbA1c levels as well as in the reduction of gingival bleeding index values. Barberry extract gel was more effective than the placebo gel in the first month in reduction of plaque. However at two months the reduction did not show any significant difference. Both, barberry extract gel as well as placebo gel performed equally in reducing the gingival index. Conclusion: Within the limitations of the study it can be concluded that the application of a dental gel containing the extract of barberry might prove to be highly beneficial in type 2 diabetic patients in controlling both gingivitis as well as glycaemic index.

Keywords: Barberry, Diabetes, Gingivitis, Glycosylated Haemoglobin, Plaque.