Wound healing effect of a one-week Aloe Vera mouthwash: a pilot study

Aloe Vera, a perennial Liliaceae plant, has medical, cosmetic, and wound-healing properties. Aloe vera has antioxidant, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, and regenerative effects. Glucommannan increases collagen synthesis and aids healing after ginivectomy treatment. Natural mouthwashes may offer gingival wound healing efficacy with reduced side-effects when compared to Chlorhexidine. Objective: the objective of this clinical study was to compare the effects on wound healing of a one-week Aloe vera mouthwash with chlorhexidine mouthwash before gingivectomy surgical therapy. Material and Methods: a total of 45 individuals experiencing inflammatory gingival enlargement were included in the study. They underwent professional mechanical plaque removal and were then randomly divided into three groups. In group I, comprising 15 patients, participants were advised to utilize 100% Aloe vera juice as a mouthwash twice daily. Group II, also consisting of 15 patients, was instructed to use Chlorhexidine (0.2%) mouthwash twice daily. The Control group, which consisted of 15 patients, was recommended to use a placebo mouth rinse in addition to mechanical plaque removal. During the second visit, which occurred one week after the initial visit, the enlarged gingival tissue was surgically removed through scalpel gingivectomy. Immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis was performed on the excised tissue to measure the levels of fibroblast growth factor-2. Results: when compared to the control group, Aloe vera showed significant differences regarding the expression of fibroblast growth factor-2(FGF-2), and highly significant differences in angiogenesis. At the same time, there were substantial differences in angiogenesis with no significant differences in the expression of FGF2 between Chlorhexidine and control groups. Conclusion: aloe vera has exhibited potential wound-healing effects as it significantly affected the IHC expression of FGF2 and angiogenesis when used as an adjunct to plaque control before gingivectomy surgical therapy. KEYWORDS Aloe-vera; Fibroblast growth factor-2; Gingival overgrowth; Chlorhexidine; Mouthwash.