title: Clinical effect of a mouthwash containingAnacardium occidentaleLinn. on plaque and gingivitis control: A randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Plaque-associated gingivitis is a prevalent disease and research in its treatment using herbal agents must be encouraged to verify which would be a useful addition to the current range or chemotherapeutic treatment options.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical effect of a mouth rinse containing 10% Anacardium occidentale (AO) Linn., a typical plant commonly found in the Northeast Region of Brazil, on the reduction of plaque and gingivitis in comparison to a gold-standard chemotherapeutic agent.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty normosystemic adult volunteers of both genders, who had a minimum of twenty natural teeth, aging between 18 and 32 years, were enrolled in this crossover, controlled, examiner-blind clinical study. They were randomly allocated into three groups: 10% AO Linn. (n = 10); 0.12% chlorhexidine digluconate (CLX, n = 10); or placebo (PB, n = 10). All volunteers were instructed to brush their teeth with a fluoridated dentifrice two times a day (12/12 h) and to rinse for 1 min with one of the mouthwashes (AO, CLX, or PB) 30 min after tooth brushing for 1 month. Plaque index (PLI) and gingival bleeding index (BLI) were recorded on days 0 and 30. Nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis and Wilcoxon tests (α = 0.05) were performed to evaluate statistical differences among groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant reduction (P < 0.05) on plaque and gingivitis at day 30 just in CLX ([PLI = 0.47 ± 0.16; -30%]; [BLI = 0.15 ± 0.09; -55.8%]) and AO ([PLI = 0.49 ± 0.21; -31%]; [BLI = 0.13 ± 0.10; -56.6%]) groups, but no statistically significant difference was observed among them (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mouthwash containing 10% AO was effective as an antiplaque and antigingivitis agent, in a similar manner that 0.12% CLX.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, School of Dentistry, University of Fortaleza, UNIFOR, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carlos Eduardo Bezerra
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, School of Dentistry, University of Fortaleza, UNIFOR, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Dhiogo Gonçalves
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Cavalcante
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, School of Dentistry, University of Fortaleza, UNIFOR, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: José Eduardo Girão
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Filho
authors.affiliation: Department of Organic Chemistry, School of Pharmacology, University of Fortaleza, UNIFOR, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Flávio Nogueira
authors.initials: FN
authors.lastname: da Costa
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, School of Dentistry, University of Fortaleza, UNIFOR, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sérgio Luís
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: da Silva Pereira
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D031021:Anacardium; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009067:Mouthwashes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D009067:Mouthwashes; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010938:Plant Oils; C010882:chlorhexidine gluconate; D002710:Chlorhexidine