Assessment of the Cytotoxicity and FTIR Properties of Clitoria Ternatea Gel for Caries Removal: An In-vitro Study

Introduction: Minimally Invasive Dentistry (MID) emphasises the selective removal of carious dentin while preserving healthy tooth structure, particularly essential in paediatric care. Natural, biocompatible alternatives to conventional Chemomechanical Caries Removal (CMCR) agents are increasingly being explored to reduce cytotoxic risks. Clitoria ternatea Gel (CTG), known for its phytochemical richness and medicinal properties, is investigated in this study as a novel CMCR agent. Aim: To evaluate the cytotoxicity and structural impact of CTG on human gingival fibroblast cells and dentinal collagen using MTT assay and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, respectively. Materials and Methods: The present in-vitro study was conducted at the Blue Lab, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, from 1st to 30th December 2024. The primary inclusion criterion was the use of cultured human gingival fibroblast cells for cytotoxicity evaluation. A total sample size of 35 wells was used, with six concentrations of CTG (100, 300, 500, 700, 900, and 1000 µg/mL) tested in quintuplicate. CTG was formulated using Clitoria ternatea flower extract combined with a gel base of Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose (HPMC) and Carbopol 934. For cytotoxicity analysis, fibroblast cells were seeded in 96-well plates and treated with CTG for 24 hours, followed by an MTT assay. Optical Density (OD) was measured at 595 nm to determine cell viability. For FTIR spectroscopy, dentinal collagen was treated with CTG and analysed for wavenumber shifts in the Amide I and II regions. Statistical analysis was performed using Oneway Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), t-tests, with a p-value