EVALUATION OF CLINICAL EFFICACY OF GREEN APPLE RIND EXTRACT GEL AS ADJUNCT TO NON-SURGICAL PERIODONTAL THERAPY: A RANDOMISED CONTROLLED CLINICAL TRIAL

Dr. Pranjali Vijaykumar Bawankar (MDS)*, Vaishnavi Saurabh Gupta, Dr. Surekha Rathod (MDS, PhD)

Background: While non-surgical periodontal therapy (NSPT) remains cornerstone of treatment, its effectiveness can be limited, especially in deeper pockets. Green apple (Malus domestica) rind extract, rich in antioxidants, may offer additional benefits as an adjunctive therapy. This study aimed to assess clinical effectiveness of green apple rind extract gel as an adjunctive treatment to NSPT in periodontitis patients. Methods: The present study was a prospective, double-blind, split-mouth randomized clinical trial including 30 systemically healthy individuals with bilateral periodontal pockets measuring 4–6 mm.. In each patient, one site received NSPT plus placebo gel (control), and contralateral site received NSPT plus green apple rind extract gel (test). Clinical parameters, including probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL), width of keratinized tissue (WKT), plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), and sulcus bleeding index (SBI), were assessed at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. Results: The test group demonstrated significantly greater improvement in PPD (3.57 ± 0.77 mm vs. 5.20 ± 0.71 mm; p < 0.001) and gain in CAL (4.40 ± 0.50 mm vs. 5.63 ± 0.61 mm; p < 0.001) compared to control. A significant increase in WKT was also noted (2.40 ± 0.50 mm vs. 1.97 ± 0.61 mm; p = 0.02). PI, GI, and SBI improved significantly in both groups, with more pronounced improvements in test group. Conclusion: The adjunctive use of green apple rind extract gel with NSPT demonstrated superior clinical outcomes, suggesting its potential as an effective, antioxidant-rich therapeutic option for periodontal regeneration.