label: url

en: Anti-Inflammatory and Protective Effects of Juncus effusus L. Water Extract on Oral Keratinocytes

en: Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease caused by periodontopathogenic bacteria that form biofilms in periodontal pockets. The gingival epithelium acts as the first physical barrier in fighting attacks by periodontopathogenic pathogens, such as the primary etiological agent , and various exogenous chemicals, as well as regulates the local innate immune responses. Therefore, the development of novel oral care products to inhibit inflammatory reactions caused by bacterial infection and protect the gingival epithelium is necessary. L. has generally been used as an indigenous medicine, such as a diuretic, an antipyretic, and an analgesic, in ancient practice. In this study, we examined the effects of a water extract from L. on the inhibition of the inflammatory reaction elicited by bacterial infection and protection of the oral epithelium by chemical irritation. Pretreatment of oral epithelial cells with the water extract from L. significantly reduced or its lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) mediated production of chemokines (interleukin-8 and C-C-chemokine ligand20) in a concentration-dependent manner with comparable to or greater effects than epigallocatechin gallate and protected oral epithelial cells from injury by chemical irritants, cetylpyridinium chloride, and benzethonium chloride. Moreover, the water extract from . L. in the presence of antimicrobial agents or antifibrinolytics already used as ingredients in mouthwash could significantly reduce the production of chemokines from LPS-stimulated oral epithelial cells in a concentration-dependent manner. These findings suggest that the water extract from . L. is potentially useful for oral care to prevent oral infections, such as periodontal infections, and maintain oral epithelial function.

en: BioMed Research International

ja: BioMed Research International


en: Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) induces VEGF expression and production in rat odontoblastic cells

en: Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), the main component of propolis, has various biological activities including anti-inflammatory effect and wound healing promotion. Odontoblasts located in the outermost layer of dental pulp play crucial roles such as production of growth factors and formation of hard tissue termed reparative dentin in host defense against dental caries. In this study, we investigated the effects of CAPE on the upregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and calcification activities of odontoblasts, leading to development of novel therapy for dental pulp inflammation caused by dental caries. CAPE significantly induced mRNA expression and production of VEGF in rat clonal odontoblast-like KN-3 cells cultured in normal medium or osteogenic induction medium. CAPE treatment enhanced nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-B) transcription factor activation, and furthermore, the specific inhibitor of NF-B significantly reduced VEGF production. The expression of VEGF receptor- (VEGFR-) 2, not VEGFR-1, was up regulated in KN-3 cells treated with CAPE. In addition, VEGF significantly increased mineralization activity in KN-3 cells. These findings suggest that CAPE might be useful as a novel biological material for the dental pulp conservative therapy.

volume: Vol.Article ID 5390720


en: Anti-inflammatory Effects of Catechin on Rat Odontoblastic Cells (KN-3)

ja: ラット象牙芽細胞様細胞 (KN-3) におけるカテキンの抗炎症作用

en: The Japanese Journal of Conservative Dentistry

ja: 日本歯科保存学雑誌