J Periodontal Implant Sci.  2022 Oct;52(5):383-393. 10.5051/jpis.2104060203.

Effects of aloe-emodin on alveolar bone in Porphyromonas gingivalis-induced periodontitis rat model: a pilot study

• Yang M
• Shrestha SK
• Soh Y
• Heo SM

• KMID: 2557585
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5051/jpis.2104060203

Abstract

Purpose
Aloe-emodin (AE), a natural anthraquinone abundant in aloe plants and rhubarb (Rheum rhabarbarum), has long been used to treat chronic inflammatory diseases. However, AE’s underlying mechanisms in periodontal inflammation have not been fully elucidated. Acidic mammalian chitinase (AMCase) is a potential biomarker involved in bone remodeling. This study aimed to evaluate AE’s effect on periodontitis in rats and investigate AMCase expression.
Methods
Eighteen Sprague-Dawley rats were separated into the following groups: healthy (group 1), disease (group 2), vehicle (group 3), AE high-dose (group 4), and AE low-dose (group 5). Porphyromonas gingivalis ligatures were placed in rats (groups 2–5) for 7 days. Groups 4 and 5 were then treated with AE for an additional 14 days. Saliva was collected from all groups, and probing pocket depth was measured in succession. Periodontal pocket tissues were subjected to histomorphometric analysis after the rats were sacrificed. Bone marrowderived macrophages and murine macrophages were stimulated with receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) and treated with different concentrations of AE. AMCase expression was detected from the analysis of saliva, periodontal pocket tissues, and differentiated osteoclasts.
Results
Among rats with P. gingivalis-induced periodontitis, the alveolar bone resorption levels and periodontal pocket depth were significantly reduced after treatment with AE. AMCase protein expression was significantly higher in the disease group than in the healthy control (P<0.05). However, AE inhibited periodontal inflammation by downregulating AMCase expression in saliva and periodontal pocket tissue. AE significantly reduced RANKLstimulated osteoclastogenesis by modulating AMCase (P<0.05).
Conclusions
AE decreases alveolar bone loss and periodontal inflammation, suggesting that this natural anthraquinone has potential value as a novel therapeutic agent against periodontal disease.

Keyword

Aloe; Chitinase; Emodin; Periodontitis; Porphyromonas gingivalis; Saliva