An evaluation of ultrasonic water extract of ginger on microhardness and microscopic features of enamel caries like lesions, compared to fluoridated agent : an in vitro study

Abstract EN

Background : ginger (Zingiber Officinale) is one of the most commonly used herbal supplements.

Ginger has been used by traditional Chinese and Indian medicine for over (25) centuries for various medical purposes including sedation of dental pain and inflammation.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of ultrasonic water extract of ginger on the micro hardness of enamel surfaces compared with that of sodium fluoride and de-ionized water (control neutral) in addition to the examination of the microscopic changes.

Materials and Methods : teeth sample consisted of (31) healthy upper first premolars extracted from (11- 14) years old patients.

One tooth was directly used for microscopic examination of sound enamel, while the remaining teeth were randomly divided into five groups, four study groups and one control group.

The initiation procedure of caries like lesion on the enamel surface was repeated for successive ten days.

While microscopic examination and Vicker’s micro hardness testing were accomplished for teeth of selected groups before and after pH cycling and after treatment with selected agents.

Results: Ultrasonic water extract of ginger in concentrations of (0.5 %, 1 % and 5 %) and sodium fluoride were successful in the elevation of the microhardness values of demineralized enamel surfaces, this elevation was statistically highly significant for ginger extract at (0.5 %, 1 %, 5 % and sodium fluoride).

Although, none of the above agents were able to increase the micro hardness values to about the original values of sound enamel, but when the matter of change between reminerlization and demineralization was taken into account, ginger extract 0.5 % concentration caused highest change, while ginger extract at 5 % was resulted in lowest change in the micro hardness values.

Microscopic examination of enamel ground sections under light microscope revealed that zones of remineralization in enamel were seen after treatment with all concentrations (0.5%, 1 % and 5 %) of ultrasonic water extract of ginger, and sodium fluoride, but it was more obvious with 0.5 % concentration of ginger extract.

Conclusions: The ginger extract at (0.5 %) concentration was effective in producing the maximum change between demineralization and remineralization, thus ginger extract at this concentration could be tried as a safe mouth wash.