In Vitro Evaluation of Cytotoxicity of Moringa oleifera Hydroalcoholic Leaf Extract on Human Gingival Fibroblasts

Background. The market for wound healing biomaterials is a rapidly growing industry globally. Moringa oleifera Lam. (MO) is a plant that has gained attention for its benefit in buccal mouthwashes and antiseptic products. This study aimed to assess the cytotoxic potential of MO hydroalcoholic extract on human primary gingival fibroblasts. Methods. The gingival tissue was collected from a healthy adult male at Umm Al-Qura University Dental Teaching Hospital. Gingival fibroblasts were isolated and cultured in Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM). MO leaves were dried, powdered, and extracted with 80% ethanol. Various concentrations of MO alcohol extract were used to assess the cell viability of gingival fibroblasts using the MTT assay. Results. The gingival fibroblasts treated with higher concentrations of MO hydroalcoholic extract (10, 5, and 2.5 mg/ml) showed significant morphological changes, including cytoplasm swelling, ruptured cells, nuclear changes, and apoptotic bodies. At these concentrations, cell viability decreased sharply. However, at a lower concentration of 2.5 mg/ml, the cells showed better viability. MO alcohol extract at concentrations of 1.25 mg/ml or lower did not have cytotoxic effects on fibroblasts, with cell viability comparable to that of the control. Conclusions. MO alcohol extract at concentrations of 1.25 mg/ml or lower is not cytotoxic and does not induce dystrophic changes in morphology. Further research is needed to understand MO’s impact on oral health and to assess its potential use in oral care products in vivo.