RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: Periodontitis is an infectious disease that results in gingiva tissue damage. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Nigella sativa (N. sativa) toothpaste in a periodontitis tissue repair based on inflammation and periodontal extracellular matrix in vivo. DESIGN: The periodontitis disease model was developed using Wistar rats infected with Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis). The rats were divided into three main groups as follows: those that did not receive any toothpaste treatment; those that were treated with N. sativa toothpaste twice a day (simultaneously with P. gingivalis induction); and normal healthy rats. The rats were sacrificed after 1 and 7 days of animal modeling. The number of inflammatory cells, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)1 + and MMP8 + cells, levels of cytokines (interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2)) and density of collagen type 1 were determined in the gingival tissues of the rats. RESULTS: The rats treated with N. sativa toothpaste had significantly lower numbers of neutrophils, macrophages and lymphocytes than the non-treated rats after 1 and 7 days of treatment; likewise, the levels of IL-1ß and PGE2 were lower in the treated experimental rats. In addition, the group treated with N. sativa toothpaste had fewer numbers of MMP1 + and MMP8 + cells and higher collagen density after 1 and 7 days of administration. CONCLUSIONS: N. sativa toothpaste exhibited anti-inflammatory effects by reducing both inflammatory cell count and activity. Additionally, N. sativa toothpaste demonstrated anti-destructive effects on the periodontal extracellular matrix. Thus, N. sativa toothpaste might be potentially used for the management of periodontitis.
