Singh et al., J Tradit Med Clin Natur 2017, 6:4 DOI: 10.4172/2573-4555.1000246 Open Access Research Article Volume 6 • Issue 4 • 1000246 J o u r n a l o f T r a d i t i o n a l M e d i c i n e & C l i n i c a l N a t u r o p a t h y ISSN: 2573-4555 Journal of Traditional Medicine & Clinical Naturopathy J Tradit Med Clin Natur, an open access journal ISSN: 2573-4555 Treatment of Lichen Planus: A Comparative Study Vibha Singh 1 *, Garima Singh 2 , Mahesh Pal 3 and Kaninika Tandon 4 1 Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, K.G. Medical University, Lucknow, India 2 Faculty of Dental Sciences, K.G. Medical University, Lucknow, India 3 Department of Phytochemistry, N.B.R.I. Lucknow, India 4 Resident Faculty of Dental Sciences, Lucknow, India Abstract Introduction: Lichen planus is a relatively common disorder, estimated to affect 0.5% to 2.0% of the general population. It is a chronic infammatory disease affecting mucosal and cutaneous tissue. Oral lichen planus occurs more frequently than the cutaneous form and tends to be more resistant to any treatment. Material and methods: This study was conducted in Department of Oral Maxillofacial Surgery. Patients in study who were clinically diagnosed and histo- pathologically confrmed as patients of oral lichen planus, were included in the study, Informed consent was taken from all patients. The extract of Turmeric and Tulsi with glycerine base in ointment form was made at National Botanical research institute Lucknow. It was used for local application twice/day for a period of 3 months. Exclusion criteria included systemic diseases and pregnancy. All the patients were divided into two groups, frst group was treated with turmeric and second group was treated with Tulsi. All the patient were instructed to report after every 2 weeks for check up and to collect ointment. Evaluation was done on the basis of clinical symptoms like burning sensation, intolerance to spicy food, redness, ulceration, strai and pain. The data was collected, tabulated and analyzed. Results: Our results shows signifcant improvement in all clinical features of the lichen planus. Tulsi shows better result in halitosis. On other hand Turmeric is better in reducing burning sensation, pain and white lesions. Conclusion: Turmeric and Tulsi both are effective in management of Oral lichen planus but turmeric is more effective in reducing burning sensation, pain and white lesions compared to Tulsi. *Corresponding author: Vibha Singh, Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, K.G. Medical University, Lucknow, India, E-mail: vibhasinghraghuvanshi@gmail.com Received September 21, 2017; Accepted September 27, 2017; Published October 03, 2017 Citation: Singh V , Singh G, Pal M, Tandon K (2017) Treatment of Lichen Planus: A Comparative Study. J Tradit Med Clin Natur 6: 246. doi: 10.4172/2573-4555.1000246 Copyright: © 2017 Singh V, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Keywords: Lichen planus; Turmeric; Tulsi Introduction Oral Lichen Planus is a common mucocutaneous disease. It was frst described by Wilson in 1869 and is thought to afect 0.5-1% of the world’s population. Te condition can afect either the skin or mucosa or both. It can cause bilateral white striations, papules or plaque on the buccal mucosa, tongue and gingiva. Erythrema, erosions and blisters may or may not be present. Te involvement of oral mucous membrane is so frequent and accompanies or precedes the appearance of lesions on the skin and genital mucous membrane. Oral lichen planus is T – cell mediated autoimmune diseas in which the auto-cytotoxic CD+T cells trigger apoptosis of the basal cells of the oral epithelium. As early event in the disease mechanism involves keratinocyte antigen expression or unmasking of an antigen that may be self – peptide or a heat shock protein following this T cells (mostely CD8+ and some CD4+ cells ) migrate in to the epithelium either due to random encounter of antigen during surveillance or a chemokine –mediated migration towards basal keratinocytes. Tese migrated CD8+ cells are activated directly by an antigen binding to major histocompatibility complex (MCH)-1 on keratinocyte or through activated CD4+ lymphocytes. In addition the number of Langerhans cells in OLP lesions is increased along with upregulation of MCH- II expression subsequent antigen presentation to CD4+cells and interlucin (IL)-12 activates CD4+T helper cells which activate CD8+T through receptor interaction, interferon γ (INF-γ) and IL-2. Cells in turn kill the basal keratinocytes through tumor necrosis factor (TNF)α, Fas-FasL –mediated or granzyme B –actvated apoptosis. Te nutritional management of autoimmune diseases usually emphasizes controlling pain and infammation, slowing the progression of the disease, and boosting the immune system. Few promising foods and nutrients are emerging as potentially benefcial. Te use of herbal and dietary supplements is on the rise in patients with autoimmune disease, mainly because they are efective, inexpensive, and relatively safe. Review of Literature Oral lichen planus is a common mucocutaneous disease. Bilateral white striation, papules or plaques on buccal mucosa, tongue and gingiva due to apoptosis of oral epithelial cells. It is covered by white grayish line of wickham’s striae. Histopathological fnding is hyperparakeratotic or hyperorthokeratotic with thickening of granular layer. Acantholysis with intracellular edema of spinous cells is also seen. Te plant Ocimum sanctum, better known as Tulsi or Holy Basil belongs to family Lamiaceae. It is a tropical plant which grows as weed and also cultivated. It is an erect plant with hairy stems, opposite ovate leaves and purple fowers. It can dry tissue secretions and can penetrate deep tissues and has anti helminthic properties. Also used on swollen parts for it’s anti infammatory properties. Tulsi leaves act as nervine tonic and help to sharpen memory. Consumption of 10-12 leaves of Tulsi per day helps to reduce stress. Ocimum tenuiforum, also known as Ocimum sanctum, holy basil or tulsi, is an aromatic plant in Indian subcontinent. Te main chemical constituents of tulsi are oleanolic acid, urosolic acid, rosmarinic acid, eugenol, carvacrol, linalool, beta-elemene. Eugenol is a potent antioxidant help protect heart by controlling blood pressure and lowering cholesterol level. Oleanolic acid and urosolic