Tanshinol Inhibits Periodontitis Through IB Promotion

The main pharmacological strategy for the treatment of periodontitis is inhibition of the inflammatory process. The aim of this study was to investigate whether tanshinol could suppress inflammatory factors and bone loss caused by periodontitis and alleviate this disease via promotion of I kappa B alpha expression. Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum adhered ligatures onto molars in rats, and lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation of human periodontal ligament cells were used for in vivo and in vitro studies, respectively. In vivo studies showed that tanshinol could downregulate the contents of interleukin 6, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and prostaglandin E2 in both saliva and blood, decrease the infiltration of inflammatory cells, and restore the destruction of alveolar bone. In vitro studies showed that tanshinol could decrease the levels of interleukin 6, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and prostaglandin E2 in human periodontal ligament cells. Tanshinol treatment improved the inflammation and suppressed the bone loss caused by periodontitis, and tanshinol alleviated LPS-induced periodontitis by upregulating the expression of I kappa B alpha and inhibiting the NF-kappa B pathway. These study results highlight the therapeutic value of Tanshinolin periodontitis.