In vitro assessment of Alfalfa plant extract in remineralizing subsurface carious lesions using quantitative energy dispersive X-ray analysis with SEM

Objectives: Alfalfa (Medicago sativa), a mineral- rich medicinal herb is a powerhouse of calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, potassium, sodium and antioxidants (vitamin A, B, C, D, E, K). All these attributes appear to maintain a big potential for investigation of re-mineralization properties of this medicinal herb. The objective of this in-vitro study is to investigate the efficacy of Alfalfa plant extract in remineralizing artificially induced carious lesion and to compare it with other commercially available re-mineralization products such as the CPP-ACP and fluoride varnish using high resolution scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Materials and method: Eighty demineralized sample were divided into four test groups, each containing twenty teeth. Group A –aqueous alfalfa plant extract, Group B - CPP-ACP (Tooth mousse), Group C – fluoride varnish, Group D - control. After 30days period, the entire test groups were evaluated with HRSEM and EDAX. The obtained data were analyzed statistically using one-way ANOVA, Post hoc analysis. Result: Statistical analysis demonstrated that group A and group B received a significantly higher amount of remineralization followed by group C. Conclusions: Alfalfa, CPP-ACP showed marginally more remineralization than fluoride varnish. Thus, alfalfa can be considered as a substitute for CPP-ACP as a remineralizing agent.