Abstract
To evaluate and compare the clinical and microbiological efficacy of locally administered 1.2% Rosuvastatin (RSV) gel and 1.2% Simvastatin (SMV) gel as an adjunct to scaling and root planing (SRP) in the treatment of patients with chronic periodontitis. In this exploratory comparative study, 60 qualifying periodontal pockets (probing pocket depth [PPD] of 5–7 mm) from patients aged 25–55 years were randomized into three groups ($n = 20$ pockets per group): Group I received SRP + local delivery of 1.2% RSV gel; Group II received SRP + local delivery of 1.2% SMV gel; and Group III (control) received SRP + placebo gel. Clinical parameters—Plaque Index (PI), Modified Gingival Index (MGI), Sulcus Bleeding Index (SBI), PPD, and Clinical Attachment Loss (CAL)—were evaluated at baseline, 6 weeks, and 3 months. Microbiological assessment of Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa) was performed using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) at baseline and 6 weeks. All 60 sites completed the study with no dropouts or adverse reactions. At 6 weeks and 3 months, both statin groups (Groups I and II) demonstrated statistically significant reductions in MGI, SBI, PPD, and CAL compared to the placebo group ($P < 0.05$). The statin groups also showed significantly lower levels of Aa and Pg at 6 weeks. Comparison between the two statins revealed that the SMV group achieved greater reductions in clinical indices (MGI, SBI, PPD, CAL) and bacterial counts (Aa and Pg) than the RSV group; however, this difference was not statistically significant (P < 0.05). No significant differences in PI scores were found between any of the groups at any interval (P < 0.05). The local delivery of both 1.2% simvastatin gel and 1.2% rosuvastatin gel as adjuncts to non-surgical periodontal therapy significantly improved clinical and microbiological outcomes in chronic periodontitis. While simvastatin demonstrated slightly greater absolute improvements than rosuvastatin, the overall therapeutic difference between the two statins was not statistically significant.
Keywords: Chronic periodontitis, Local drug delivery, Rosuvastatin, Simvastatin, Polymerase chain reaction.
Introduction
Periodontitis is an infectious and inflammatory condition characterized by the destruction of the soft and hard tissues of the periodontium, which can eventually lead to tooth loss (Kinane and Stathopoulou 2017). The microorganisms that inhabit the subgingival region are believed to be the cause of inflammation and destruction that take place near the bone; among them, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa) and Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) are known to be major pathogens in the onset and development of periodontitis (Elavarasu et al. 2012).
The goal of current periodontal treatment is to eliminate bacterial accumulations from the tooth surface and to shift the harmful microbiota toward a state that supports periodontal health (Elavarasu et al. 2012). Scaling and root planing (SRP) is considered the most reliable method; however, this procedure by itself may not fully eradicate the suspected microorganisms from the pocket due to infiltration of these organisms into deeper regions that are not reachable by periodontal instruments, leading to periodontal recurrence (Agarwal et al. 2016). Therefore, various adjunctive pharmacological therapies have been explored to enhance the efficacy of SRP.
Systemically administered drugs for the treatment of periodontitis have several drawbacks that can be overcome by applying the drug locally. These approaches enable a reduction in total administered dosage, thereby minimizing adverse effects while maintaining therapeutic amounts of the drug in the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) for a longer period and, consequently, longer maintenance of the therapeutic effects (Agarwal et al. 2016).
Statins are a category of drugs that block the HMG-CoA reductase enzyme, mainly prescribed to manage high blood lipid levels and prevent heart disease (Martin-Ruiz et al. 2018). Beyond their ability to lower cholesterol, statins offer a broad spectrum of additional health benefits—including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial (bacterial, fungal, and viral), and immunomodulatory effects—while also actively promoting bone growth (Catherine Petit et al. 2019).
As a naturally derived statin older than its counterparts, simvastatin (SMV) possesses lipophilic properties and has proven to be anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial against various organisms (Kamińska Petit et al. 2019, Emani Petit et al. 2014). Rosuvastatin (RSV), a newer, synthetic, second-generation, sulfur-containing, hydrophilic statin, has been shown to have good antihyperlipidemic and strong anti-inflammatory activity. Methylcellulose is a safe, hypoallergenic, and non-irritating polymer that can be used as a controlled-release vehicle in many oral and topical medicinal products in the mouth (Pradeep et al. 2015).
This study aimed to assess and compare the effectiveness of the locally administered 1.2% Rosuvastatin gel and Simvastatin gel along with scaling and root planing.
Studies have shown that local drug delivery (LDD) of 1.2% RSV is effective in improving clinical and radiographic outcomes compared to 1.2% atorvastatin (ATV) or placebo gels when used alongside mechanical periodontal therapy. Research has also indicated that LDD of 1.2% ATV produces better periodontal results than 1.2% SMV (Pradeep et al. 2016, Martande et al. 2017). However, no study has evaluated the microbiological efficacy of 1.2% RSV and 1.2% SMV against Pg and Aa. The present study aims to compare the clinical and microbiological effectiveness of 1.2% RSV gel and 1.2% SMV gel in the treatment of periodontal disease.
Materials and methods
Study design
A prospective, three-arm, parallel-group, double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial.
Study population and source of data
The study population comprised patients diagnosed with chronic periodontitis who attended the Outpatient Department (OPD) of the Panineeya Mahavidyalaya Institute of Dental Sciences and Research Centre in Dilsukhnagar, Hyderabad. Before recruitment, all eligible participants were comprehensively briefed on the nature and objectives of the research, and written informed consent was voluntarily obtained from each individual.
The sample size was calculated a priori using the primary outcome variable of change in probing pocket depth (PPD). Based on data from a previous randomized controlled trial evaluating locally delivered statin gel as an adjunct to scaling and root planing, an expected mean difference (∆) and standard deviation (σ) were considered clinically significant. Assuming a two-sided significance level (α) of 0.05 and a study power (1 − β) of 80%, the required sample size was calculated using the following formula for comparison of means:
![]() |
where:
(n) = sample size per group.
(Z_{α/2}=1.96) (95% confidence interval).
(Z_ β= 0.84) (80% power).
(Σ) = expected standard deviation.
(∆) = minimum clinically important difference.
The calculated minimum sample size was 20 periodontal sites per group. Therefore, a total of 60 periodontal sites equally allocated to three study groups were included.
(Charan J, Biswas T. How to calculate sample size for different study designs in medical research? Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine. 2013;35(2):121–126.)
Method of collection of data
The participants in the study were informed about the research, and written consent was acquired.
The study sample consisted of a total of 60 periodontal pockets categorized into 3 groups, each group comprised of 20 sites.
o Group I (20): Scaling and Root Planing (SRP) with application of 1.2% Rosuvastatin gel.
o Group II (20): SRP along with application of 1.2% Simvastatin gel.
o Group III (20): SRP along with application of placebo gel.
Inclusion criteria
Patients aged between 25 to 55years.
Probing pocket depth (PPD) 5–7 mm.
Patients who have not received periodontal therapy within the preceding 6 months.
Exclusion criteria
Patients who received treatment with antibiotics/anti-inflammatory or any statin drugs in the last 3 months.
Pregnant and lactating females.
Medically compromised patients.
Smokers, tobacco chewers and alcoholics.
Patients who were allergic to drugs.
Severe form of Periodontitis with deep pockets.
Clinical and microbiological outcomes
Clinical parameters were meticulously evaluated at baseline, 6 weeks, and 3 months post-intervention. These assessments included the:
Plaque Index (PI) according to Silness and Löe (1964).
Modified Gingival Index (MGI) by Lobene et al. (1986)
Sulcus Bleeding Index (SBI) as described by Mühlemann and Son (1971).
Probing Pocket Depth (PPD).
Clinical Attachment Loss (CAL).
In addition to the clinical parameters, a microbiological assessment was conducted using Polymerase Chain Reaction at baseline and at 6 weeks to evaluate the levels of Porphyromonas gingivalis and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans using Cycle Threshold values (Ct).
Formulation of 1.2% rosuvastatin gel and 1.2% simvastatin gel
The statin powder was taken from Aurobindo Pharmaceutical Company, and the formulation and evaluation of Statin gel for periodontal use and local administration was carried out in KP Labs, Kothapet, Hyderabad. 2.5 g of carboxymethylcellulose was added to 100 g of water gradually while stirring continuously to achieve a gel-like consistency. After this mixture was prepared, 1.2 g of SMV/RSV was incorporated slowly while maintaining continuous stirring to complete the preparation. (Fig. 1)
Fig. 1.

1.2% of RSV, SMV, and Placebo Gel Bottles
Following completion of baseline clinical and microbiological assessments, the selected periodontal sites were randomly allocated in a 1:1:1 ratio to one of the three intervention groups: Group I (SRP + 1.2% rosuvastatin gel), Group II (SRP + 1.2% simvastatin gel), and Group III (SRP + placebo gel). A computer-generated random allocation sequence was prepared by an independent investigator who was not involved in participant recruitment, intervention delivery, or outcome assessment. Randomization was performed using block randomization with a block size of six to ensure balanced allocation across the three study groups.
The allocation sequence was concealed using sequentially numbered, opaque, sealed envelopes (SNOSE). After completion of scaling and root planing and baseline measurements, the treating clinician opened the next envelope in sequence to determine the assigned intervention. The investigator responsible for recording clinical and microbiological outcomes remained blinded to the treatment allocation throughout the study.
Primary outcome
The primary outcome of the study was the change in probing pocket depth (PPD) from baseline to 3 months following treatment. PPD was measured in millimetres using a University of North Carolina (UNC-15) periodontal probe at baseline, 6 weeks, and 3 months. The primary comparison was the difference in mean PPD reduction among the three treatment groups.
Secondary outcomes
The secondary outcomes included:
Change in clinical attachment level (CAL) from baseline to 3 months.
Change in Modified Gingival Index (MGI) scores at baseline, 6 weeks, and 3 months.
Change in Sulcus Bleeding Index (SBI) scores at baseline, 6 weeks, and 3 months.
Change in Plaque Index (PI) scores at baseline, 6 weeks, and 3 months.
Change in the microbiological levels of Porphyromonas gingivalis and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, assessed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using cycle threshold (Ct) values at baseline and 6 weeks.
Incidence of adverse events, allergic reactions, or other treatment-related complications observed during the study period.
All clinical measurements were recorded by a calibrated examiner using standardized periodontal assessment methods, and microbiological analyses were performed under uniform laboratory conditions.
Sample collection, preparation & storage
Baseline readings were taken to read values of PI, MGI, SBI, PPD, and CAL with the University of North Carolina probe and subgingival plaque was taken using the area-specific Gracey curette and moved into a vial of Huwel Molecular Transport Media (MTM). All the samples were stored at -20 °C till the PCR performed. (Fig. 2)
Fig. 2.

Plaque samples collected in the transport media
Application of the gel
A plaque sample was collected, and scaling/root planing was carried out. Local drug delivery was performed manually using a blunt-cannula syringe, and the prepared placebo, 1.2% RSV gel, or 1.2% SMV gel was administered into the periodontal pocket at a dose of 0.1 mL.
After delivery, the gel became more viscous as carboxymethylcellulose absorbs water from the surrounding GCF and binds to the mucin layer of the pocket epithelium. This hydration causes polymer chain expansion and physical entanglement, raising local viscosity, and fills the pockets, thus eliminating the need for a periodontal dressing (Viglianisi et al. 2023). After LDD, patients were instructed to avoid sticky hard food products as well as toothbrush and interdental aids around the treated areas for a week to avoid extrusion of the gel from the pocket (Pradeep and Thorat 2010). The postoperative instructions were the same for all the patients, and the use of mouthwashes or antibiotics was not indicated after therapy. (Fig. 3, 4, 5)
Fig. 3.

Rosuvastain group
Fig. 4.

Simvastatin group
Fig. 5.

Placebo group
Results
In this study, 60 sites were analyzed among patients aged 25 to 55 years. There were no dropouts in the study. Clinical parameters were evaluated at baseline, 6 weeks, and 3 months. Microbiological assessments were conducted at baseline and 6 weeks. Upon clinical evaluation, none of the patients reported any adverse or allergic reactions. Soft tissue healing was uneventful.
Statistical analysis
Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare the three groups. However, the pairwise comparison of two groups was done using the Mann-Whitney U test. Kruskal wallis Anova test showed that there was no statistically significant difference between the three groups in both clinical and microbiological parameters at baseline. All three groups showed a statistically significant reduction in all the parameters.
The difference in plaque scores amongst the three groups was not statistically significant at any time interval. Statin groups showed lower MGI, SBI scores, probing depths, and CAL at 6 weeks and 3 months compared to the placebo group, and this difference was statistically significant (P < = 0.05). Between the statin groups, Simvastatin showed a greater reduction in MGI and SBI scores and a greater reduction in probing depth and CAL at 6 weeks and 3 months. However, this difference was not statistically significant (P = > 0.05).
The statin groups also showed a greater Ct value for Aa and Pg at 6 weeks, and this difference was statistically significant (P < = 0.05). Ct values are inversely proportional to the amount of bacterial DNA present. Between the statin groups, Simvastatin showed a greater reduction in Aa and Pg at 6 weeks. However, this difference was not statistically significant (P = > 0.05) (Graph. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7).
Graph. 1.

Intergroup comparison of plaque index at baseline, 6 weeks and 3 months
Graph. 2.

Intergroup comparison of modified gingival index at baseline, 6 weeks and 3 months
Graph. 3.

Intergroup comparison of sulcus bleeding at baseline, 6 weeks and 3 months
Graph. 4.

Intergroup comparison of Probing depth at baseline, 6 weeks and 3 months
Graph. 5.

Intergroup comparison of Clinical attachment level at baseline, 6 weeks and 3 months
Graph. 6.

Intergroup comparison of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans at baseline and 6 weeks
Graph. 7.

Intergroup comparison of Porphyromonas gingivalis at baseline and 6 weeks
Discussion
Local delivery of the drug is a minimally invasive method of reducing the bacterial load. Due to various non-lipidic effects of statins such as antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, etc., statins are used as a local drug delivery and host-modulating agent in periodontics (Purushotham et al. 2015). A R Pradeep et al. and S S Martande et al. conducted studies comparing 1.2% Rosuvastatin with 1.2% Atorvastatin gel and 1.2% Simvastatin with 1.2% Atorvastatin gel, respectively. 9,10 Ramezani A et al. conducted research comparing the antimicrobial effect of Atorvastatin and nano Atorvastatin mouthwash on Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans using a micro broth dilution assay; the result revealed that the MIC of atorvastatin and nano atorvastatin was 0.039 and 0.002 µg/mL, respectively. This study suggested that the compounds could be useful as adjunctive treatment of periodontitis (Ramezani et al. 2026).
To the best of our knowledge based on the literature surveyed, no studies are comparing the clinical efficacy and antimicrobial properties of 1.2% SMV and 1.2% RSV gels in patients with chronic periodontitis. Therefore, the current study aimed to evaluate the clinical and antimicrobial effects of simvastatin and rosuvastatin gels. In the present study, the efficacy of 1.2% RSV and 1.2% SMV was compared based on clinical and microbiological parameters.
Gram-negative bacteria such as Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, and Treponema denticola are significantly predominant in the periodontal pocket and are associated with the advancement of periodontal disease (Kulkarni et al. 2018). Kulkarini PG, in his study, detected Pg in 60% of patients having pocket depth upto 5 mm and in 93.33% of patients having more than 5 mm pocket depth (Kulkarni et al. 2018). In a study by Joshi VM, Aa was found in 60% of patients having chronic periodontitis (Joshi et al. 2016). Gohler A et al., conducted a comparative study on the microbiological samples collected from two oral habitats (Tongue + subgingival pocket) and found that increased relative abundances of P. gingivalis, A. actinomycetemcomitans, and F. nucleatum were linked to increased levels of PD or CAL (Göhler et al. 2018). Hence, in this study, it was decided to check the Aa and Pg levels in periodontal pockets before and after the application of statins.
To identify and detect bacteria in the present study, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used. PCR demonstrates greater sensitivity and specificity in detecting bacteria compared to bacterial culture (Kulkarni et al. 2018). Microorganisms were detected based on the cycle threshold (Ct) value. The number of cycles needed for the fluorescent signal to cross the threshold above background signal is defined as the Ct. The lower the concentration of target nucleic acid in the sample, the higher the Ct.
In this study, a statistically significant reduction in plaque scores was observed from baseline to the end of the study (3 months) in each of the three groups. However, the difference among the three groups was not statistically significant, indicating no difference in oral hygiene status across all groups throughout the study period.
In a double-blind randomized clinical trial, Lobene et al. sought to determine the relationship between the Modified Gingival Index (MGI) and gingival inflammatory indices that involve a bleeding component. In the present study, MGI was used because it has been proven comparable to indices traditionally used in gingivitis studies (Lobene 1986) while avoiding invasive procedures that could disrupt soft tissue or plaque in the gingival region.
In the present study, all clinical parameters significantly improved in the placebo group. A decrease in the levels of A. actinomycetemcomitans (A.a.) and P. gingivalis (P.g.) was also observed in the placebo group; however, this did not reach statistical significance. This is in line with the findings of Pradeep et al., who also reported significant improvement in clinical parameters within the placebo group (Pradeep et al. 2015).
In this study, SMV and RSV showed statistically significant improvement compared to placebo in all clinical parameters from baseline to three months. This shows the anti-inflammatory effect of SMV and RSV. This is in accordance with previous studies done by other researchers (Agarwal et al. 2016, Pradeep et al. 2015, Rath et al. 2012, Pradeep et al. 2013, Grover et al. 2016, Stalker et al. 2001, Saba et al. 2025, Pietrzko et al. 2025).
Statins exert anti-inflammatory effects by both decreasing the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-8) and increasing the levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, IL-10 (Grover et al. 2016, Saba et al. 2025, Cicek Ari et al. 2016). They are also involved in the production of pro-resolving molecules (Spite and Serhan 2010) such as lipoxins, resolvins, maresins and protectins; however, further investigations are required to confirm this. Statins have also been shown to have an effect on Lymphocyte Function Associated Antigen-1 (LFA-1). Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1(ICAM-1) regulates lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) dependent neutrophil transmigration and recruitment to the inflammation site. Studies have also found that statins inhibit LFA-1, therefore having a role in ‘host modulation’(Catherine Petit et al. 2019, Hajishengallis and Sahingur 2014). Statins have also been found to have an inhibitory effect on Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-1, 8, and 9 and Nitric Oxide Synthase (NOS) (Catherine Petit et al. 2019, Poston et al. 2016).
Statistically, a greater reduction in A. actinomycetemcomitans (A.a.) and P. gingivalis (P.g.) scores was observed with Simvastatin and Rosuvastatin than with placebo in our study. This is likely because these statins possess antibacterial effects, which aligns with findings from previous studies (Kamińska et al. 2019, Emani et al. 2014).
In their review, Petit et al. detailed the pleiotropic effects of statins. A reduction in reactive oxygen species (ROS), an increase in pro-resolving molecules, and the inhibition of cholesterol synthesis were cited as responsible for the antibacterial properties of statins (Catherine Petit et al. 2019).
In this study, SMV showed greater improvements compared to RSV in all the clinical parameters as well as greater reduction in Aa and Pg levels. However, this was not statistically significant. This could be due to greater anti-bacterial effect of SMV or could be by chance. Hence, further randomized clinical trials with large cohort are required to evaluate the effectiveness of Simvastatin over Rosuvastatin.
Conclusion
Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory condition resulting from a dysregulated host immune response to microbes. The application of controlled-release, locally administered antimicrobial agents in conjunction with mechanical therapy yields positive outcomes in managing localized periodontal sites. Statins have been shown to exhibit various pleiotropic effects, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, and immunomodulatory properties. These properties make statins promising agents in the treatment of periodontitis. Simvastatin is an older, naturally derived lipophilic drug, whereas rosuvastatin is a newer, synthetic, hydrophilic drug. Therefore, the present study aimed to compare their clinical and antimicrobial activities. Both drugs showed statistically significant improvements in clinical and microbiological parameters compared to placebo. Between the two statins, simvastatin showed better overall results than rosuvastatin; however, the difference between them was not statistically significant.
Further, well-designed long-term interventional studies with a large sample size are required to substantiate the findings of the present study and prove the efficacy of Simvastatin over Rosuvastatin.
| Tests of Normality | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| group | Kolmogorov-Smirnova | Shapiro-Wilk | |||||
| Statistic | df | Sig. | Statistic | df | Sig. | ||
| baseline | Rosuvastatin | 0.307 | 17 | 0.000 | 0.807 | 17 | 0.003 |
| Simvastatin | 0.346 | 17 | 0.000 | 0.761 | 17 | 0.001 | |
| placebo | 0.328 | 20 | 0.000 | 0.728 | 20 | 0.000 | |
| 6 weeks | Rosuvastatin | 0.364 | 17 | 0.000 | 0.784 | 17 | 0.001 |
| Simvastatin | 0.388 | 17 | 0.000 | 0.758 | 17 | 0.001 | |
| placebo | 0.236 | 20 | 0.005 | 0.875 | 20 | 0.014 | |
| 3 months | Rosuvastatin | 0.316 | 17 | 0.000 | 0.791 | 17 | 0.002 |
| Simvastatin | 0.363 | 17 | 0.000 | 0.701 | 17 | 0.000 | |
| placebo | 0.184 | 20 | 0.074 | 0.864 | 20 | 0.009 | |
| baseline | Rosuvastatin | 0.221 | 17 | 0.027 | 0.836 | 17 | 0.007 |
| Simvastatin | 0.497 | 17 | 0.000 | 0.470 | 17 | 0.000 | |
| placebo | 0.471 | 20 | 0.000 | 0.436 | 20 | 0.000 | |
| 6 weeks | Rosuvastatin | 0.284 | 17 | 0.001 | 0.839 | 17 | 0.007 |
| Simvastatin | 0.285 | 17 | 0.001 | 0.824 | 17 | 0.004 | |
| placebo | 0.233 | 20 | 0.006 | 0.884 | 20 | 0.021 | |
| 3 months | Rosuvastatin | 0.302 | 17 | 0.000 | 0.578 | 17 | 0.000 |
| Simvastatin | 0.257 | 17 | 0.004 | 0.799 | 17 | 0.002 | |
| placebo | 0.405 | 20 | 0.000 | 0.725 | 20 | 0.000 | |
| baseline | Rosuvastatin | 0.264 | 17 | 0.003 | 0.896 | 17 | 0.058 |
| Simvastatin | 0.493 | 17 | 0.000 | 0.498 | 17 | 0.000 | |
| placebo | 0.415 | 20 | 0.000 | 0.633 | 20 | 0.000 | |
| 6 weeks | Rosuvastatin | 0.391 | 17 | 0.000 | 0.688 | 17 | 0.000 |
| Simvastatin | 0.309 | 17 | 0.000 | 0.846 | 17 | 0.009 | |
| placebo | 0.370 | 20 | 0.000 | 0.792 | 20 | 0.001 | |
| 3 months | Rosuvastatin | 0.299 | 17 | 0.000 | 0.771 | 17 | 0.001 |
| Simvastatin | 0.296 | 17 | 0.000 | 0.782 | 17 | 0.001 | |
| placebo | 0.281 | 20 | 0.000 | 0.871 | 20 | 0.012 | |
| baseline | Rosuvastatin | 0.170 | 17 | 0.200* | 0.889 | 17 | 0.044 |
| Simvastatin | 0.225 | 17 | 0.023 | 0.872 | 17 | 0.024 | |
| placebo | 0.218 | 20 | 0.014 | 0.889 | 20 | 0.026 | |
| 6 weeks | Rosuvastatin | 0.214 | 17 | 0.037 | 0.899 | 17 | 0.066 |
| Simvastatin | 0.214 | 17 | 0.038 | 0.868 | 17 | 0.020 | |
| placebo | 0.222 | 20 | 0.011 | 0.855 | 20 | 0.007 | |
| 3 months | Rosuvastatin | 0.290 | 17 | 0.001 | 0.879 | 17 | 0.031 |
| Simvastatin | 0.186 | 17 | 0.122 | 0.879 | 17 | 0.031 | |
| placebo | 0.337 | 20 | 0.000 | 0.821 | 20 | 0.002 | |
| baseline | Rosuvastatin | 0.220 | 17 | 0.029 | 0.881 | 17 | 0.033 |
| Simvastatin | 0.244 | 17 | 0.008 | 0.826 | 17 | 0.005 | |
| placebo | 0.182 | 20 | 0.080 | 0.903 | 20 | 0.047 | |
| 6 weeks | Rosuvastatin | 0.206 | 17 | 0.054 | 0.890 | 17 | 0.045 |
| Simvastatin | 0.242 | 17 | 0.009 | 0.871 | 17 | 0.023 | |
| placebo | 0.163 | 20 | 0.171 | 0.885 | 20 | 0.022 | |
| 3 months | Rosuvastatin | 0.205 | 17 | 0.056 | 0.847 | 17 | 0.010 |
| Simvastatin | 0.255 | 17 | 0.005 | 0.851 | 17 | 0.011 | |
| placebo | 0.230 | 20 | 0.007 | 0.834 | 20 | 0.003 | |
| AA pre | Rosuvastatin | 0.308 | 17 | 0.000 | 0.671 | 17 | 0.000 |
| Simvastatin | 0.121 | 17 | 0.200* | 0.974 | 17 | 0.884 | |
| placebo | 0.106 | 20 | 0.200* | 0.958 | 20 | 0.496 | |
| Pg pre | Rosuvastatin | 0.196 | 17 | 0.083 | 0.867 | 17 | 0.020 |
| Simvastatin | 0.140 | 17 | 0.200* | 0.963 | 17 | 0.696 | |
| placebo | 0.176 | 20 | 0.106 | 0.924 | 20 | 0.117 | |
| AA post | Rosuvastatin | 0.160 | 17 | 0.200* | 0.869 | 17 | 0.021 |
| Simvastatin | 0.191 | 17 | 0.098 | 0.888 | 17 | 0.043 | |
| placebo | 0.163 | 20 | 0.172 | 0.969 | 20 | 0.737 | |
| Pg post | Rosuvastatin | 0.236 | 17 | 0.013 | 0.726 | 17 | 0.000 |
| Simvastatin | 0.111 | 17 | 0.200* | 0.961 | 17 | 0.651 | |
| placebo | 0.177 | 20 | 0.101 | 0.878 | 20 | 0.016 | |
| *. This is a lower bound of the true significance. | |||||||
a. Lilliefors Significance Correction
| N | Mean | Std. Deviation | Chi square value | P value | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PI | baseline | Rosuvastatin | 20 | 2.0375 | 0.38281 | 0.98 | 0.61 |
| Simvastatin | 20 | 2.1000 | 0.46169 | ||||
| placebo | 20 | 2.1250 | 0.40148 | ||||
| 6 weeks | Rosuvastatin | 20 | 0.8625 | 0.45505 | 0.43 | 0.80 | |
| Simvastatin | 20 | 0.8625 | 0.31908 | ||||
| placebo | 20 | 1.0500 | 0.55961 | ||||
| 3 months | Rosuvastatin | 20 | 0.6750 | 0.50719 | 4.04 | 0.13 | |
| Simvastatin | 20 | 0.7000 | 0.36814 | ||||
| placebo | 20 | 1.0625 | 0.72943 | ||||
| MGI | baseline | Rosuvastatin | 20 | 1.8600 | 0.72286 | 4.4 | 0.10 |
| Simvastatin | 20 | 2.1500 | 0.36635 | ||||
| placebo | 20 | 2.0150 | 0.27961 | ||||
| 6 weeks | Rosuvastatin | 20 | 0.5350 | 0.48480 | 25.34 | 0.000 HS | |
| Simvastatin | 20 | 0.4300 | 0.37989 | ||||
| placebo | 20 | 1.2350 | 0.37735 | ||||
| 3 months | Rosuvastatin | 20 | 0.1850 | 0.30136 | 36.04 | 0.000 HS | |
| Simvastatin | 20 | 0.2400 | 0.20876 | ||||
| placebo | 20 | 0.9675 | 0.23299 | ||||
| SBI | baseline | Rosuvastatin | 20 | 2.0125 | 0.79668 | 4.88 | 0.08 |
| Simvastatin | 20 | 2.0875 | 0.21877 | ||||
| placebo | 20 | 2.0625 | 0.37936 | ||||
| 6 weeks | Rosuvastatin | 20 | 0.7875 | 0.45360 | 14.3 | 0.001 HS | |
| Simvastatin | 20 | 0.5750 | 0.38984 | ||||
| placebo | 20 | 1.2125 | 0.48174 | ||||
| 3 months | Rosuvastatin | 20 | 0.2875 | 0.36522 | 31.77 | 0.000 HS | |
| Simvastatin | 20 | 0.2000 | 0.19194 | ||||
| placebo | 20 | 0.9750 | 0.32343 | ||||
| PD | baseline | Rosuvastatin | 20 | 5.3600 | 0.33623 | 8.83 | 0.01 S |
| Simvastatin | 20 | 5.7100 | 0.52103 | ||||
| placebo | 20 | 5.2800 | 0.45259 | ||||
| 6 weeks | Rosuvastatin | 20 | 3.0500 | 0.37205 | 41.73 | 0.000 HS | |
| Simvastatin | 20 | 3.4500 | 0.43830 | ||||
| placebo | 20 | 4.4400 | 0.45003 | ||||
| 3 months | Rosuvastatin | 20 | 2.8750 | 0.22682 | 43.22 | 0.000 HS | |
| Simvastatin | 20 | 3.2700 | 0.46009 | ||||
| placebo | 20 | 4.2800 | 0.44081 | ||||
| CAL | baseline | Rosuvastatin | 20 | 4.7600 | 0.97300 | 0.01 | 0.99 |
| Simvastatin | 20 | 4.6600 | 0.70815 | ||||
| placebo | 20 | 4.6750 | 0.84160 | ||||
| 6 weeks | Rosuvastatin | 20 | 2.4500 | 1.15690 | 23.41 | 0.000 HS | |
| Simvastatin | 20 | 2.4000 | 0.72184 | ||||
| placebo | 20 | 3.8400 | 0.75422 | ||||
| 3 months | Rosuvastatin | 20 | 2.2750 | 1.09009 | 23.44 | 0.000 HS | |
| Simvastatin | 20 | 2.2200 | 0.70755 | ||||
| placebo | 20 | 3.6800 | 0.71126 | ||||
| Pre | AA pre | Rosuvastatin | 20 | 28.0215 | 3.21061 | 5.54 | 0.06 |
| Simvastatin | 20 | 27.2070 | 1.59860 | ||||
| placebo | 20 | 28.0875 | 2.02939 | ||||
| Pg pre | Rosuvastatin | 20 | 22.6595 | 6.80207 | 0.01 | 0.99 | |
| Simvastatin | 20 | 22.4820 | 4.89192 | ||||
| placebo | 20 | 22.7850 | 6.57033 | ||||
| Post | AA post | Rosuvastatin | 20 | 30.1895 | 2.69132 | 11.71 | 0.003 HS |
| Simvastatin | 20 | 30.5680 | 1.56882 | ||||
| placebo | 20 | 28.2690 | 1.98275 | ||||
| Pg post | Rosuvastatin | 20 | 28.0765 | 4.73871 | 14.04 | 0.001 HS | |
| Simvastatin | 20 | 29.3005 | 2.95900 | ||||
| placebo | 20 | 21.8970 | 6.16020 | ||||
Statistical test applied: Kruskal wallis Anova
Pair wise comparisons (Rosuvastatin vs. Simvastatin)
| Z | Asymp. Sig. (2-tailed) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| PI | baseline | − 0.572 | 0.567 |
| 6 weeks | − 0.175 | 0.861 | |
| 3 months | − 0.948 | 0.343 | |
| MGI | baseline | -1.815 | 0.070 |
| 6 weeks | − 0.512 | 0.609 | |
| 3 months | -1.361 | 0.174 | |
| SBI | baseline | -1.934 | 0.053 |
| 6 weeks | -1.637 | 0.102 | |
| 3 months | − 0.131 | 0.896 | |
| PD | baseline | -2.386 | 0.067 |
| 6 weeks | -2.891 | 0.004 HS | |
| 3 months | -3.246 | 0.001 HS | |
| CAL | baseline | − 0.068 | 0.946 |
| 6 weeks | − 0.652 | 0.515 | |
| 3 months | − 0.667 | 0.505 | |
| Pre | AA pre | -2.408 | 0.066 S |
| Pg pre | − 0.054 | 0.957 | |
| Post | AA post | − 0.203 | 0.839 |
| Pg post | -0.867 | 0.398 |
Statistical test applied: Mann Whitney U test; HS – Highly significant at p < 0.01; S – Significant at p < 0.05
Pair wise comparisons (Rosuvastatin vs. Placebo)
| Z | Asymp. Sig. (2-tailed) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| PI | baseline | -1.018 | 0.309 |
| 6 weeks | − 0.575 | 0.566 | |
| 3 months | -1.758 | 0.079 | |
| MGI | baseline | -1.275 | 0.202 |
| 6 weeks | -3.984 | 0.000 HS | |
| 3 months | -4.978 | 0.000 HS | |
| SBI | baseline | -1.638 | 0.101 |
| 6 weeks | -2.046 | 0.041 S | |
| 3 months | -4.451 | 0.000 HS | |
| PD | baseline | − 0.472 | 0.637 |
| 6 weeks | -5.360 | 0.000 HS | |
| 3 months | -5.490 | 0.000 HS | |
| CAL | baseline | − 0.095 | 0.924 |
| 6 weeks | -3.404 | 0.001 HS | |
| 3 months | -3.457 | 0.001 HS | |
| Pre | AA pre | − 0.757 | 0.449 |
| Pg pre | − 0.135 | 0.892 | |
| Post | AA post | -2.50 | 0.012 S |
| Pg post | -2.84 | 0.004 HS |
Statistical test applied: Mann Whitney U test; HS – Highly significant at p < 0.01; S – Significant at p < 0.05
Pair wise comparisons (Simvastatin vs. Placebo)
| Z | Asymp. Sig. (2-tailed) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| PI | baseline | − 0.334 | 0.738 |
| 6 weeks | − 0.517 | 0.605 | |
| 3 months | -1.481 | 0.139 | |
| MGI | baseline | -1.344 | 0.179 |
| 6 weeks | -4.641 | 0.000 HS | |
| 3 months | -5.303 | 0.000 HS | |
| SBI | baseline | − 0.266 | 0.791 |
| 6 weeks | -3.819 | 0.000 HS | |
| 3 months | -5.242 | 0.000 HS | |
| PD | baseline | -2.687 | 0.007 HS |
| 6 weeks | -5.282 | 0.000 HS | |
| 3 months | -5.225 | 0.000 HS | |
| CAL | baseline | − 0.055 | 0.956 |
| 6 weeks | -4.948 | 0.000 HS | |
| 3 months | -5.009 | 0.000 HS | |
| Pre | AA pre | -1.380 | 0.168 |
| Pg pre | − 0.068 | 0.946 | |
| Post | AA post | -3.35 | 0.001 HS |
| Pg post | -3.47 | 0.001 HS |
Statistical test applied: Mann Whitney U test; HS – Highly significant at p < 0.01; S – Significant at p < 0.05
Author contributions
Conceptualization done by H.P. and G.B.; methodology done by H.P. and G.B.; investigation done by H.P., writing original draft preparation done by H.P.; writing review and editing done by H.P. and M.S.; supervision by K.R.; project administration by G.B. and K.R.; All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
Funding
Open access funding provided by Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal
Data availability
No datasets were generated or analysed during the current study.
Declarations
Ethics approval and consent to participate
The study was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee of the Panineeya Mahavidyalaya Institute of Dental Sciences and Research Centre, Hyderabad. IEC Proposal No: PMYIDS & RC/IEC/PERIO/DN/0290-2019, Protocol Ref No: 0038.
Competing interests
The authors declare no competing interests.
Footnotes
Publisher’s note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
References
- Agarwal S, Chaubey KK, Chaubey A, Agarwal V, Madan E, Agarwal MC (2016) Clinical efficacy of subgingivally delivered simvastatin gel in chronic periodontitis patients. J Indian Soc Periodontol 20:409–416 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Cicek Ari V, Ilarslan YD, Erman B et al (2016) Statins and IL-1β, IL-10, and MPO levels in gingival crevicular fluid: preliminary results. Inflammation 39(4):1547–1557 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Elavarasu S, Suthanthiran TK, Naveen D, Statins (2012) A new era in local drug delivery. J Pharm Bioallied Sci 4(Suppl 2):S248–S251 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Emani S, Gunjiganur GV, Mehta DS (2014) Determination of the antibacterial activity of simvastatin against periodontal pathogens, Porphyromonas gingivalis and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans: An in vitro study. Contemp Clin Dent 5(3):377–382 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Göhler A, Samietz S, Schmidt CO, Kocher T, Steinmetz I, Holtfreter B (2018) Comparison of Oral Microbe Quantities from Tongue Samples and Subgingival Pockets. Int J Dent 2018(1):2048390 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Grover HS, Kapoor S, Singh A (2016) Effect of topical simvastatin (1.2 mg) on gingival crevicular fluid interleukin-6, interleukin-8 and interleukin-10 levels in chronic periodontitis – a clinicobiochemical study. J Oral Biology Craniofac Res 6(2):85–92 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Hajishengallis G, Sahingur SE (2014) Novel inflammatory pathways in periodontitis. Adv Dent Res 26(1):23–29 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Joshi VM, Bhat KG, Kugaji MS, Ingalgi PS (2016) Occurrence of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans in Indian chronic periodontitis patients and periodontally healthy adults. J Indian Soc Periodontol 20(2):141–144 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed]
- Kamińska M, Aliko A, Hellvard A et al (2019) Effects of statins on multispecies oral biofilm identify simvastatin as a drug candidate targeting Porphyromonas gingivalis. J Periodontol 90(6):637–646 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Kinane DF, Stathopoulou PG (2017) Papapanou. Periodontal diseases. Nat Reviews Disease Primers 3:17038 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Kulkarni PG, Gosavi S, Haricharan PB, Malgikar S, Mudrakola DP, Turagam N, Ealla KKR (2018) Molecular Detection of Porphyromonas gingivalis in Chronic Periodontitis Patients. J Contemp Dent Pract 19(8):992–996 [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Lobene RR (1986) A Modified Gingival Index for Use in Clinical Trials. Clin Prev Dent 8:3 [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Martande SS, Kumari M, Pradeep AR, Singh SP, Suke DK (2017) Comparative evaluation of efficacy of subgingivally delivered 1.2% atorvastatin and 1.2% simvastatin in the treatment of intrabony defects in chronic periodontitis: a randomized controlled trial. J Dent Res Dent Clin Dent Prospects 11(1):18–25 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Martin-Ruiz E, Olry-de-Labry-Lima A, Ocaña-Riola R, Epstein D (2018) Systematic review of the effect of adherence to statin treatment on critical cardiovascular events and mortality in primary prevention. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol Therap 23(3):200–215 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Petit C, Batool F, Bugueno IM, Schwinté P Nadia Benkirane-Jessel, Olivier Huck (2019) Contribution of Statins towards Periodontal Treatment: A Review. Mediators Inflammation Article ID 6367402, 33 pages [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed]
- Pietrzko MM, Pietrzko M, Niemczyk W, Skaba D, Wiench R (2025) Subgingival Delivery of Statins as an Adjunct in the Non-Surgical Treatment of Periodontitis: A Systematic Review. Biomedicines 13(1):182 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Poston CJ, Pierce TC, Li Y et al (2016) Statin intake is associated with MMP-1 level in gingival crevicular fluid of patients with periodontitis. Oral Dis 22(5):438–444 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Pradeep AR, Thorat MS (2010) Clinical efficacy of subgingival localized delivery of 1.2% simvastatin gel in chronic periodontitis: a randomized controlled clinical trial. J Periodontol 81(7):1050–1056 [Google Scholar]
- Pradeep Ar, Rao NS, Bajaj P, Kumari M (2013) Efficacy of subgingivally delivered simvastatin in the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes and chronic periodontitis: A randomized double-masked controlled clinical trial. J Periodontol 84(1):24–31 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Pradeep AR, Karvekar S, Nagpal K, Patnaik K, Guruprasad CN, Kumaraswamy KM (2015) Efficacy of Locally Delivered 1.2% Rosuvastatin Gel To Non-Surgical Treatment of Patients With Chronic Periodontitis: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial. J Periodontolog 86(6):738–745 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Pradeep AR, Garg V, Kanoriya D (2016) Singhal. 1.2% rosuvastatin versus 1.2% atorvastatin gel local drug delivery and redelivery in treatment of intrabony defects in chronic periodontitis: a randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial. J Periodontol 87(7):756–762 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Purushotham S, D’Souza ML, Purushotham R, Statin (2015) A boon in periodontal therapy. SRM J Res Dent Sci 6:243–249 [Google Scholar]
- Ramezani A, Etezadi T, Goli H, Daraei N, Saeedi M, Mollaei M, Sedighi A, Hosseinnataj A, Ehsani H (2026) Comparison of the Antimicrobial Effect of Atorvastatin and Nano-Atorvastatin Mouthwash on AggregatibacterActinomycetemcomitans: An in vitro Study. Journal of Dentistry 27(2):148 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed]
- Rath A, Mahenra J, Thomas L, Sandhu M, Namasi A, Ramakrishna T (2012) A clinical, radiological and IL-6 evaluation of subgingivally delivered simvastatin in the treatment of chronic periodontitis. Int J Drug Deliv 4(1):70 [Google Scholar]
- Saba AK, Teixeira LV, Saba-Chufji E, Mouchrek Júnior JCE, Martinez EF (2025) Effect of simvastatin on Runx2, Osterix and proinflammatory cytokines gene expression in experimental periodontal disease. RGO Rev Gaúch Odontol 73:e20250031 [Google Scholar]
- Spite M, Serhan CN (2010) Novel lipid mediators promote resolution of acute inflammation: impact of aspirin and statins. Circul Res 107(10):1170–1184 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Stalker TJ, Lefer AM, Scalia R (2001) A new HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, rosuvastatin, exerts anti-inflammatory effects on the microvascular endothelium: the role of mevalonic acid. Br J Pharmacol 133(3):406–412 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Viglianisi G, Santonocito S, Lupi SM, Amato M, Spagnuolo G, Pesce P, Isola G (2023) Impact of local drug delivery and natural agents as new target strategies against periodontitis: new challenges for personalized therapeutic approach. Therapeutic Adv Chronic Disease 14:20406223231191043 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
Associated Data
This section collects any data citations, data availability statements, or supplementary materials included in this article.
Data Availability Statement
No datasets were generated or analysed during the current study.

