Effect of puerarin on inflammation and alveolar bone resorption in experimental rats with periodontitis

Objective:To investigate the effect of puerarin on inflammation and alveolar bone resorption in rats with experimental periodontitis.Methods:Thirty-six 7-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups(n=12).Twelve rats as the control group and the remaining rats were to establish a chronic periodontitis model ligated with orthodontic ligature wire on the cervical part of the left maxillary first molar under general anesthesia.All three groups were administered by gavage for 14 days:equal amounts of saline were given to the control and periodontitis groups,and 400 mg/kg concentration of puerarin was given to the puerarin group.All rats were anesthetized after 24 h of the last administration,blood was collected from the abdominal aorta,and the serum was centrifuged for the detection of IL-4,IL-10,IL-6,and IFN-γin peripheral blood,then all rats were executed,some rats separated from the left maxilla,fresh gingival tissue removed from the buccal-palatal side of the left maxillary first molar,and the remaining maxillary bone tissue used for the detection of Micro-CT;some rats subjected to the left maxillary bone specimens taken with the gingival tissues,used for HE staining detection.Results:HE staining showed that inflammatory cell infiltration was significantly reduced in the puerarin group compared to the periodontitis group.ELISA analysis showed that puerarin promoted IL-4 and IL-10 expression and decreased IL-6 and IFN-γexpression levels in serum(P<0.05).Micro-CT showed that puerarin significantly reduced alveolar bone resorption compared to the periodontitis group(P<0.05).Conclusion:Puerarin may inhibit inflammation and alveolar bone resorption in experimental periodontitis rats.