The antioxidant effect and chemical composition of two experimental photosensitizers in induced periodontitis

The aim of this study is to identify and test new natural photosensitizers used in antibacterial photodynamic therapy due to the antimicrobial and antioxidant effect they present. The experimental study was conducted on rats in which periodontal disease was induced. As treatment, photodynamic therapy was used in the presence of new developed natural photosensitizers based on oregano essential oil and curcumin extract. Malondialdehyde as well as low and oxidized glutathione levels were measured by spectrophotometry to assess oxidative stress in treated groups of rats. New photosensitizers were characterized by modern testing methods, using FTIR infrared spectroscopy, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and UV-Vis analysis. The results obtained suggest that the prooxidant effect is mainly due to exposure to photodynamic therapy (irradiation) and leads to the antibacterial therapeutic effect that is maintained even when applying gels with antioxidant agents.