Evaluation of the chemopreventive effects of Ankaferd Bloodstopper in 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-induced oral epithelial dysplasia.

OBJECTIVES: Ankaferd BloodStopper® (ABS) is an herbal extract which has been used historically as a hemostatic agent in traditional Turkish medicine. ABS comprises of standardized mixture of herbs Thymus vulgaris, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Vitis vinifera, Alpinia officinarum, and Urtica dioica. In addition to its hemostatic effects, the herb ABS contains some other biological effects including antioxidant and antitumoral properties. The aim of this study is to investigate the chemopreventive effects of ABS in 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced oral epithelial dysplasia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 40 Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups. Group 1 animals received DMBA alone, and group 2 animals received both DMBA and Ankaferd. Group 3 animals received ABS alone while group 4 animals served as control group and received only liquid paraffine. All animals were sacrificed, and tissue samples were analyzed histologically at the end of the experimental period (14 weeks). RESULTS: Histological studies have shown that the buccal pouches of animals treated with DMBA alone revealed severe dysplasia while only mild or no dysplasia were noticed in DMBA + ABS group. Ankaferd were administered to animals and control group showed no dysplasia or other oral lesions. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that Ankaferd Bloodstopper® has chemopreventive effect against DMBA-induced oral epithelial dysplasia. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Ankaferd Bloodstopper® could be used as a supportive treatment option of cancer in oral and maxillofacial surgery since it possesses chemopreventive effect.

Peripheral osteoma in an unusual location on the mandible.

Osteoma is a benign, slow-growing, painless, discrete lesion which is characterised with the proliferation of a compact or cancellous bone. Osteomas are rare on the jaws. Lesions of the mandible developed most often in the condyle, angle and margin. Osteoma developed on the genial tubercle area had only been reported in one case. A 50-year-old female patient has been admitted to our department with the symptom of a hard mass under the chin area. In extra-oral and radiographic examinations, a 1×1 cm size, round, palpable, immobile, radiopaque mass has been determined on the genial tubercle area. The lesion has been completely removed under local anaesthesia by extra-oral approach. Her recovery period was uneventful. Osteoma diagnosis was confirmed with histopathological examination. There is no recurrence at 3-year follow-up. The purpose of this case report is to present a peripheral osteoma case that occurred in the genial tubercle area which is an unusual place.

The antioxidant and antimutagenic activities of Ankaferd blood stopper,a natural hemostatic agent used in dentistry.

BACKGROUND/AIM: This study investigated the antioxidant and antimutagenic properties of Ankaferd blood stopper (ABS), a plant-based topical hemostatic agent used in Turkey to treat external hemorrhages and bleeding during dental surgery. While previous studies have examined the antimicrobial, antiinflammatory, and anticarcinogenic properties of ABS, to our knowledge, this is the first study to report on the antioxidant and antimutagenic activities of this drug. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Antioxidant activity was evaluated using DPPH radical-scavenging and ß-carotene-linoleic acid tests. Antimutagenic activity was assessed using the Ames Salmonella/microsome mutagenicity test with the bacterial mutant strains Salmonella typhimurium TA98 and TA100. RESULTS: Although ABS demonstrated no free-radical-scavenging activity in DPPH assays at the tested concentrations, ß-carotene-linoleic acid testing found ABS to have a total antioxidant activity rate of 47.06 ± 4.41%. Antimutagenic effects were observed on TA100 at plate concentrations of 5%, 0.5%, and 0.05%, and on TA98 only at a plate concentration of 5%. CONCLUSION: ABS was shown to possess antioxidant and antimutagenic properties that could be of potential value in the fields of medicine and dentistry.

Pilonidal sinus of the chin: mistreated as a dental fistula.

Pilonidal sinus is a chronic inflammatory condition associated with penetration of hair particles into the skin. It is rare in the chin area and, to our knowledge, there is only one such reported case. A 56-year-old man was previously admitted to a private clinic, with a hard mass on his anterior buccal sulcus. Three of the patient's teeth were extracted as the swelling was thought to be associated with a dental infection. Because the fistula did not resolve, the patient was referred to our department. Following radiological and clinical examinations, the hard mass was reached intraorally and hair shafts were seen inside it. The area was closed primarily after cleaning the inflammatory tissues and the hairs. The recovery period was uneventful. In this case report, we present a pilonidal sinus encountered in the chin area, the wrong treatment initially given to the patient and the subsequent treatment carried out by us.