Background and objectives:–Lipid peroxidation plays a role in pathogenesis of periodontal disease and malondialdehyde is one the end products of lipid peroxidation. The objective of the present study was to estimate and compare levels of malondialdehyde in saliva and gingival tissue of subjects with healthy periodontium and with chronic periodontitis.

 Materials and methods:–. A total of 40 subjects participated in the study. The subjects were divided among namely

 Group A–Total of 20 subjects aged between 30–55 years who have chronic periodontitis

Group B (control) –Total of 20 subjects with healthy periodontium aged between 15–35 years

The values obtained were subjected to students T–test.

Results:–The results showed that the mean salivary and gingival tissue malondialdehyde levels were significantly higher in Group A as compared to Group B subjects.

Conclusion:–Thus from this study it can be concluded that malondialdehyde can be used as a diagnostic marker for periodontal disease.