Table 6.

Effect of areca nut and chrysanthemum oral gel on histological scores, number of connective tissue cells that expressed TNF-α, and percentage of collagen deposition area on the 7 ^th experimental day (n = 18).

Parameter	Microscopic evaluation
	Groups
	Negative control	Positive control	F1	F2	F3	Normal	95% CI	p
Histological scores	0	1.34 ± 1.53	1.67 ± 1.53	0	1.34 ± 0.58	0		0.107
TNF-α immunostaining scores	1.33 ± 0.58	2.67 ± 0.58	1.00 ± 1.53	2.33 ± 0.58	1.33 ± 0.58	1.00 ± 0		0.025
Collagen deposition area (%)	5.63 a ± 2.28	14.49 ± 0.95	17.73 b ± 9.32	12.63 c ± 0.92	25.4 d ± 2.12	9.40 ± 1.05	1.61, 23.93 e	0.001

Data of histological and TNF-α immunostaining scores are expressed as the mean±SD, p < 0.05, Kruskal-Wallis test. Data of collagenase assay are expressed as the mean ± SD, 95% CI, p < 0.05, One-Way ANOVA/Tukey Post Hoc test. Results are representative of three independent experiments.

^a Significantly different from F1 and F3 groups.

^b Significantly different from negative control.

^c Significantly different from F3.

^d Significantly different from F2, negative control, and normal groups.

^e 95% CI of F2 compared with F3. Negative control: base gel treatment group; Positive control: triamcinolone acetonide treatment; F1: 20% areca nut:80% chrysanthemum; F2: 50% areca nut:50% chrysanthemum; F3: 80% areca nut:20% chrysanthemum.