Evaluating the Effects of Polyphenols on Periodontal Health: A Systematic Literature review

Abstract

**Relevance of the problem**. Periodontal diseases are prevalent inflammatory conditions that affect tooth supporting tissues and may contribute to systemic health issues. Polyphenols and flavonoids, due to their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, have shown potential as adjuncts to conventional therapy. **Aim of the study**. To systematically evaluate the scientific literature on the effectiveness of polyphenolic and flavonoid based interventions in improving periodontal health outcomes. **Materials and methods**. This systematic literature review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. Electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Embase, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, and Wiley Online Library) were searched for relevant studies published between 2015 and 2025 using a structured Boolean search strategy. Eligible studies involved human participants with periodontal disease and examined the clinical or biochemical effects of polyphenol-based interventions. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane ROB 2 tool. **Results**. Fourteen studies met the inclusion criteria, investigating various polyphenolic interventions including curcumin, green tea derivatives, resveratrol supplementation, grape seed extract, spirulina, and Punica granatum formulations. Many of these studies demonstrated statistically significant improvements in clinical parameters such as probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL), bleeding on probing (BOP), gingival index (GI), and (plaque index) PI (p < 0.05; p < 0.001) as well as reductions in inflammatory and oxidative stress markers (p < 0.05) (eg., IL-1β, TNF-α, lL-6) when polyphenols were used as adjuncts to non-surgical periodontal therapy (NSPT). **Conclusions**. Polyphenols and flavonoids appear to be promising adjunctive agents in managing periodontal disease. However, further high-quality randomised controlled trials are necessary to establish optimal dosing regimens, delivery mechanisms, and long-term safety profiles.