Clinical evaluation of the effect of Hypericum perforatum gum on salivary streptococcus mutans count, salivary pH, plaque index and gingival bleeding

Abstract

Hypericum perforatum plant has significant effects. The aim of this study was to use the extract of Hypericum perforatum in the preparation of herbal gum and to compare it with the control group without extract. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of this extract on the amoutnt of salivary streptococcus mutans bacteria and pH, plaque index and gingival bleeding in Tabriz Dental School. Methods: This clinical trial study was conducted on 54 students and staff of Tabriz Dental Faculty after extracting the plant and making gum. The participants were devided into two groups of chewing gum with or without Hypericum perforatum extract for two weeks. The plaque index and gingival bleeding was recorded before and after the use of chewing gum and reported as percentages. Before and after using the gums, unstimulated saliva was collected from the volunteers and sent to the laboratory for bacterial culture. On the same day, salivary pH was measure. SPSS 26 and STATA 14.2 software and beta regression test, Generalize Estimating Equations analysis, paired t-test and covariance analysis were used for data analysis. Results: Out of 54 participants, 19 (35.2%) were men and 35 (64.8%) were women. According to the results of the beta regression of plaque index before and after the use of hollyhock with placebo, a significant difference was observed. Using the analysis of Generalize Estimating Equations with Ben-Ferroni's correction, a significant difference was observed in the amount of gum bleeding between before and after the use of gum containing the extract of Hypericum perforatum, but no significant difference was observed in the placebo group between before and after use. Using the same test, a significant difference was observed in the amount of gum bleeding in the case and control groups. There was a significant difference in the amount of caries-causing bacteria (Streptococcus mutans) in the saliva before and after the use of gerbil and placebo in both stages of measurement (p<0.01). It was also observed that there was a significant difference between gerbil and placebo in the first and second stages of measurement, and in general, there was a significant difference between gerbil and placebo considering before and after measurement, the first and second stages of measurement (p<0.01). The average number of bacteria after the use of geranium in both stages of measurement has significantly decreased compared to the use of placebo. A significant difference was observed in the pH of saliva before and after consuming chewing gum containing geranthera extract (p<0.01). Also, a significant difference was observed in the placebo group both before and after the use of the placebo. And after using the treatments, no significant difference was observed (p=0.07). Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the gum formulation of Hypericum perforatum extract had a significant effect on reducing the amount of salivary streptococci mutans bacteria and pH, and reducing the plaque index and gingival bleeding.