Scutellaria baicalensis ameliorates the destruction of periodontal ligament via inhibition of inflammatory cytokine expression.

Scutellaria baicalensis (SB) is widely used as a medicinal plant to treat various inflammatory diseases. In the present study, we investigated the effects of SB on periodontitis in ligature-induced experimental rat model.

Rats were subjected to a ligature placement around the first molar of the mandible to induce periodontitis. 100 mg/kg SB extracts were orally administered for 14 days. The molar tissues were stained with 1% methylene blue. Histopathological changes of the periodontium were observed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. The levels of cytokines were measured in the gingival tissue.

Alveolar bone resorption was statistically lower in the SB group compared to the ligatured group. SB inhibited the mineralization of cementum. In addition, SB reduced the production of IL-1β, 6, -8 and TNF-α cytokine mRNA expression in gingival tissues.

These results suggest that SB showed ameliorative effects in the ligature-induced periodontitis by inhibition of inflammatory cytokine expression.