title: Evaluation of melatonin levels in saliva in gingivitis and periodontitis cases: A pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the melatonin levels in saliva in gingivitis and periodontitis cases.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Melatonin has strong antioxidant, free radical scavenging, and immunomodulating properties, acts on osteoblasts directly to stimulate cell proliferation and synthesis of Type I collagen, and promotes bone formation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of thirty participants were selected and divided into three groups (control group, gingivitis group, and periodontitis group). In each group, ten participants were taken. Salivary melatonin was estimated in each of the three groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results from this study showed that the mean levels of salivary melatonin increased as severity increased from control to periodontitis, i.e., the mean levels were highest in periodontitis followed by gingivitis and least in control group. The melatonin level of all participants was positively and significantly (P< 0.01) correlated with their gingival index (r= 0.85,P< 0.01) and probing depth (r= 0.72,P< 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Salivary melatonin level varied with the severity of gingivitis and periodontitis. With increased severity of periodontal disease, the level of salivary melatonin also increased suggesting that salivary melatonin may act as a diagnostic biomarker for periodontal diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, Faculty of Dental Sciences, C. S. M. Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Karuna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lodhi
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, Faculty of Dental Sciences, C. S. M. Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Charanjit Singh
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Saimbi
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, Faculty of Dental Sciences, C. S. M. Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Mohammad Akhlaq
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmacology, CDRI, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Chandishwar
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nath
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmacology, CDRI, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Rakesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shukla
keywords: Gingivitis; melatonin; periodontitis; saliva