title: A clinico-biochemical evaluation of the role of a herbal (Ayurvedic) immunomodulator in chronic periodontal disease: a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Host modulation is fast gaining popularity as a preferred therapeutic modality for periodontal disease. Recent research in the medical field into herbal immunomodulators such as Septilin® has spurred an interest in evaluating its efficacy in periodontitis for the first time.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to assess the immunomodulatory effects of the herbal immunomodulator Septilin® (Himalaya Drug Company, Bangalore, India) when used as an adjunct to scaling and root planing in chronic periodontal disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty systemically healthy patients aged between 25 and 55 years of age and with chronic periodontitis were randomly divided into two groups. The test group was administered Septilin® tablets for two weeks following scaling and root planing whereas the control group was treated by scaling and root planing alone. Changes in gingival index (GI), gingival bleeding index (GBI), serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and salivary tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels were assessed at day 0, at two weeks, and at three and six months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The GI and GBI showed a statistically significant reduction at two weeks, three months and six months (P<0.001) in both groups. Salivary TNF-α level reduction was significant in the test group only (P<0.001). No significant change was found in serum CRP levels in both groups (P>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this pilot evaluation, Septilin® was found to be a safe and effective immunomodulator as an adjunct to routine periodontal therapy. Further long-term studies to test Septilin® on larger sections of the population are recommended.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, Bangalore Institute of Dental Sciences & Postgraduate Research, Karnataka State, India.
authors.forename: Shreya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shetty
authors.forename: Aditi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bose
authors.forename: Srirangarajan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sridharan
authors.forename: Aparna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Satyanarayana
authors.forename: Aparna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rahul
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D055113:Chronic Periodontitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000628:therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D012534:Dental Scaling / Q000379:methods; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005884:Gingival Hemorrhage / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008515:Medicine, Ayurvedic; D008875:Middle Aged; D010512:Periodontal Index; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016745:Root Planing / Q000379:methods; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides / Q000032:analysis; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D007155:Immunologic Factors; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C047352:septilin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein