Journal Article

Comparative cumulative index for assessment of regression of oral homogeneous leukoplakia

Hirani, Palak, Rathi, Bharat, Patel, Aditya, Chandak, Rakhi, Chandak, Manoj, Patel, Satyawan Singh, Lohe, Vidya, Khobragade, Deepak

2026

Overview

Effective treatment of oral homogeneous leukoplakia requires the use of an antioxidant with optimal properties to ensure a regression of the lesion with respect to size and colour, which is evaluated clinically and also with the help of salivary MDA levels. Despite the availability of various antioxidants, an improved standard evaluation system is needed for adjunct therapy of herbal antioxidants to widely systemically administered lycopene; a standardised evaluation system still needs to be improved. To develop a Comparative Cumulative Index (CCI) for assessment of regression of oral homogeneous leukoplakia that systematically evaluates and ranks adjunct herbal antioxidants to systemically administered lycopene based on their regression in size and colour of lesion and salivary MDA levels. CCI was developed through a structured process involving expert identification, panel discussions, and the establishment of scoring criteria. Two herbal antioxidants as an adjunct to systemically administered lycopene and lycopene alone (Groups A, B, C) were evaluated. Mean values for the core properties were calculated, and antioxidants were ranked accordingly. The total CCI for each antioxidant was computed based on the assigned scores for each property. Lesion size, lesion colour, and salivary MDA parameters all showed differences in CCI between the assessed treatment groups. Group C, with a 50% CCI. Group B’s performance, with a CCI of 41%, is highlighted by deficiencies in several properties, whereas Group A came in third with a CCI of 34%. CCI provides a comprehensive antioxidant evaluation approach to assist practitioners in making informed decisions. The significance of balancing regression in lesion size and colour as well as salivary MDA levels is highlighted by Group C’s high CCI. The results are in line with earlier studies that emphasized the significance of these traits in the treatment of oral homogeneous leukoplakia. The CCI makes it easier to compare adjunct antioxidant therapy based on empirical data and offers a reliable and equitable method of evaluating antioxidants. Future research should enhance the index and validate its use in a range of clinical contexts in order to improve treatment outcomes in oral homogeneous leukoplakia.

• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group UK,Nature Publishing Group,Nature Portfolio
• Subject: 692/700/3032/3129 / 692/700/3032/3139 / Antioxidants / Antioxidants - therapeutic use / Cell division / Dentistry / Female / Free radicals / Humanities and Social Sciences / Humans / Lesions / Leukokeratosis / Leukoplakia, Oral - drug therapy / Leukoplakia, Oral - metabolism / Leukoplakia, Oral - pathology / Lipid peroxidation / Lipids / Lycopene / Lycopene - administration & dosage / Lycopene - therapeutic use / Male / Malondialdehyde - metabolism / Middle Aged / multidisciplinary / Oxidative stress / Reproducibility / Saliva - chemistry / Saliva - metabolism / Science / Science (multidisciplinary) / Treatment Outcome