Wound Healing Effects of Channa striatus Aqueous Extract on Feline Gingivitis

Periodontal disease is the most common health problem in domestic cats. The goal of periodontal disease treatment is to decrease bacterial accumulation and control inflammation, thereby decreasing periodontal tissue attachment loss. Channa striatus (Haruan) is known for its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. This study aims to investigate the healing effect of C. striatus extract (CSE) on periodontitis in cats. Subgingival microbiological samples were taken from 24 stray cats with periodontal disease. The cats were divided randomly into four groups: CSE, commercialized oral product (COP), plain agar gel (PAG), and untreated. Assessment of the periodontal healing based on clinical examinations, gingivitis index, probing depth, recession, calculus index, and healing changes were evaluated weekly. Gingival biopsy samples were obtained on the first, third, fifth, and seventh days. There was a significant difference in the gingivitis index in the CSE, COP, and PAG groups during the treatment period. The histological healing score for the CSE group showed a reduced inflammation score compared to the PAG group on day 5. The fibroblast and collagen deposition scores increased on day 7 for the CSE group compared to the other groups. These findings suggest that CSE could be a plausible therapeutic healing alternative for periodontal disease in cats and could control gingivitis and the formation of plaque after application.