Evaluating the therapeutic potential of Salacca zalacca peel ethanol extract on probing depth and gingival recession in Wistar rats with periodontitis.

BACKGROUND: Specific germs produced periodontitis, a destructive inflammatory disease of the tissues supporting the teeth that destroyed the periodontal ligament and alveolar bone, and the creation of pockets, gingival recession, or both. Adjunctive therapy and mechanical scaling were used to treat periodontitis. Because of its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant, and wound-healing properties, the ethanol extract of snakefruit peel (Salacca zalacca var. pondoh) included phytochemicals that were helpful as an alternate supplementary therapy for periodontitis. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of snake fruit peel ethanol extract on probing depth and gingival recession in Wistar rats with experimentally induced periodontitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A posttest-only control group design was used in a real experimental laboratory investigation. Twenty-four Wistar rats were used as research subjects and divided into six groups. On days 1, 7, and 14, the treatment group received the ethanol extract of snake fruit peel, while the positive control group received chlorhexidine gluconate. The One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Post hoc least significant difference tests were used for data analysis. RESULTS: One-way ANOVA showed significant differences in probing depth and gingival recession among the groups (P < 0.05). The treatment groups showed lower probing depth and gingival recession scores than the positive control groups across all observation periods. CONCLUSION: Snake fruit peel ethanol extract was associated with lower probing depth and gingival recession scores in Wistar rats with experimentally induced periodontitis. Further studies are required to confirm its biological mechanisms and therapeutic potential as an adjunctive periodontal therapy.