Background: The use of hyaluronic acid and aloe vera extracts in gingival therapies lacks sufficient evidence to support their significant regenerative and proliferative effects in dentistry.
Aim of the study: The study aims to compare the proliferative effects of HA and AV on gingival fibroblast cells in an in vitro study.
Material and methods: Fibroblasts were divided into three groups: control, HA-treated, and AV-treated. Cells were examined 24 and 72 hours after using H&E staining and MTT assay, PCNA staining, and RT-PCR for gene expression of AKT1, In the case of AV, the dose was 0.7973 µg/ml at 72 hours. In the case of HA, the dose was 0.379 µg/ml at 72 hours.
Results: H&E results found that both HA and AV affected HGFs proliferation; most cells showed mitosis and adhesion and appeared larger. MTT results showed viability increasing with a high significant difference. The area fraction for PCNA revealed it was lowest in the control group (0.62±0.08), followed by AV and HA treatment recording (1.87±0.11 and 2.71±0.07, respectively). In the two experimental groups, HA-treated group and AV-treated group, area fraction increased in HA than in AV with a high significant difference (p value˂0.01). HA also increased the gene expression of the AKT1 gene, with a 2.4% change in relative expression compared to the control and a 1.5% change increase in AV.
Conclusion: Both HA and AV had a proliferative effect on human gingival fibroblasts; HA has a more potent effect than AV, the difference between groups was statistically significant.