Abstract Description

Dental infections, commonly associated with oral pathogens such as Streptococcus mutans and Porphyromonas gingivalis, are a major public health concern. These infections are often exacerbated by oxidative stress and inflammatory responses, which contribute to tissue damage and disease progression. Medicinal plants traditionally used in oral healthcare provide a promising source of bioactive compounds with potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. This study evaluated selected medicinal plants for their ability to reduce oxidative stress, regulate inflammatory mediators, and inhibit enzymes linked to inflammatory pathways relevant to dental infections. Antioxidant activity was assessed using radical scavenging assays, while cytotoxicity and cell viability in mammalian cells were determined through the MTT assay. The modulation of nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was examined in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages. Anti-inflammatory activity was further investigated by evaluating the inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX), lipoxygenase (LOX), and secretory phospholipase A₂ (sPLA₂), which are key enzymes in eicosanoid biosynthesis and inflammatory signalling. Several plant extracts demonstrated significant antioxidant activity in radical scavenging assays. The MTT assay confirmed their safety at selected concentrations, with minimal cytotoxicity observed. In cell-based assays, extracts effectively reduced excessive production of NO and ROS, indicating a strong role in mitigating oxidative stress. Furthermore, notable inhibition of COX, LOX, and sPLA₂ was observed, suggesting potent antiinflammatory effects. These findings collectively support a dual mechanism involving both antioxidant defence and anti-inflammatory regulation. The study highlights the therapeutic potential of medicinal plants as natural alternatives or complementary agents in managing dental infections. By suppressing oxidative stress, reducing inflammatory mediators, and inhibiting critical enzymatic pathways, these extracts may provide safer and effective strategies to improve oral health outcomes. Further work to isolate and characterise the active compounds could facilitate the development of novel plant-based therapeutics for dental care.