Effectiveness of Two Phytochemicals,
P-Coumaric Acid and Quercetin in Reducing the Melanin Content of Pigmented Gingival Tissue: An Ex-vivo Study
ZC58-ZC63
Correspondence
Shubhangi Behl,
301 A, Umang Vasant Utsav Thakur Village, Kandivali East, Mumbai-400101, Maharashtra, India.
E-mail: shubhangibehl@gmail.com
Introduction: Pigmented gingiva is an aesthetic concern for many individuals. Various treatment modalities have been developed to address this condition, but each carries certain disadvantages. Recently, the use of herbal products has been considered as a treatment modality, as they are safe and readily available. P-Coumaric Acid (p-CA) and Quercetin are two plant-based chemicals that have shown depigmenting effects on the skin. Given the similar cellular structure of skin and gingiva, the present study aimed to test their depigmenting effects on the gingiva.
Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of two phytochemicals, p-CA (3 μM) and Quercetin (20 μM), in reducing the melanin content of pigmented gingival tissue.
Materials and Methods: The study was an ex-vivo study conducted in the Department of Periodontology at Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed to be University Dental College and Hospital, Pune, Maharashtra, India, from January 2024 to April 2024. A total of 10 patients with a Dummet Oral Pigmentation Index (DOPI) score of two were selected for the study. A surgical depigmentation procedure was performed and the excised tissue was divided into three parts. The first part of the excised tissue served as a control group (Group A), while the second and third parts were treated with p-CA (Group B) and Quercetin (Group C), respectively. Histological analysis was conducted using Haematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) staining and immunohistochemical analysis was performed using the Human Melanoma Black 45 (HMB-45) antibody test. The reduction in melanin content was recorded in all three groups and the results obtained were compared using a t-test. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0 was used for statistical analysis, with a p-value of ≤0.05 considered statistically significant.
Results: Both p-CA and Quercetin demonstrated a reduction in the level of pigmentation. Comparative analysis indicated that p-CA had a stronger effect than Quercetin.
Conclusion: The p-CA and Quercetin can be considered potential depigmenting agents.