Therapeutic effect of Lianbeijuqin (a Chinese herbal cocktail) on periodontitis in rat

Purpose: To investigate the therapeutic effect of Lianbeijuqin (LBJQ) decoction on periodontitis in rats in vivo and in vitro.Methods: High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to analyze the main constituents of LBJQ. Periodontitis in rats was induced in rats by ligation with bacteria-infected silk. Gingival index (GI) and attachment loss (AL) were evaluated. Additionally, the antibacterial activity of LBJQ against Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedius, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Streptococcus sanguis and Streptococcus mutans were evaluated usingminimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) values. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of LBJQ on the release of TNF-α, IL-1 β and IL-6 was also determined.Results: HPLC revealed the presence of phellodendrine, baicalin, palmatine, berberine, baicalein, wogonin and obacunone in LBJQ. LBJQ decoction dose-dependently (200, 400 and 800 mg/kg) and significantly decreased GI and AL (p < 0.05) in the periodontitis model rats. It also exerted significant antibacterial effect against P. gingivalis (MIC, 0.64 mg/mL; MBC, 2.56 mg/mL), P. intermedius (MIC, 0.32 mg/m; MBC, 2.56 mg/mL), A. actinomycetemcomitans (MIC, 1.28 mg/mL; MBC, 5.12 mg/mL), F. nucleatum (MIC, 0.16 mg/mL; MBC, 0.64 mg/mL), S. sanguis (MIC, 0.64 mg/mL; MBC, 5.12 mg/mL), and S. mutans (MIC, 0.16 mg/mL; MBC, 1.28 mg/mL). Moreover, LBJQ decoction dose-dependently and significantly decreased the release of TNF-α (p < 0.01), IL-1 β (p < 0.01) and IL-6 (p < 0.01) in LPSinduced RAW 264.7 cells.Conclusion: LBJQ exerts therapeutic activity against periodontitis in rats via inhibition of the release of inflammatory cytokines and growth of oral anaerobic bacteria.Keywords: Lianbeijuqin decoction, Periodontitis, Phellodendrine, Baicalin, Palmatine, Berberine, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedius, Inflammatory cytokines