title: Evaluation of the novel anti-inflammatory agent tetrandrine as a pulpotomy medicament in a canine model.
abstract: Tetrandrine, a bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid with unique broad-spectrum anti-inflammatory properties, was evaluated as a pulpotomy medicament in a canine model. Histological sections were evaluated after three days (acute inflammation) and six weeks (chronic inflammation) by two criteria: 1) intensity and degree of inflammation, and 2) extent of pulp involvement. The results of the three-day dressings revealed significant neutrophil infiltration in only 30% of teeth treated with tetrandrine, compared with 81%, 84%, and 100% of teeth treated with Ledermix, (Lederle Pharmaceuticals, Wolfrathausen, Germany), formocresol (Creighton Pharmaceuticals, Sydney, Australia) and saline (controls) respectively (P < 0.01). After six weeks, there was significant lymphocyte infiltration in only 30% of teeth treated with tetrandrine, compared with 66%, 90%, and 100% on teeth treated with Ledermix, formocresol, and saline controls respectively. (P < 0.01). In both three-day and six-week specimens in tetrandrine-treated teeth the extent of inflammation was limited to less than one-third of the coronal section of the pulp, whereas teeth treated with Ledermix or formocresol showed cellular infiltration extending to greater than two-thirds of the pulp (P < 0.01). Comparative studies with berbamine, a natural analog of tetrandrine, showed that it was less potent than tetrandrine, but significantly better than Ledermix and formocresol on both acute and chronic pulp inflammation (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01 respectively). These results suggest that tetrandrine may have value as a pulpotomy medicament.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: W K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Seow
authors.forename: Y H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Thong
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D044182:Benzylisoquinolines; D003707:Demeclocycline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004285:Dogs; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005566:Formocresols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011671:Pulpitis / Q000628:therapy*; D011672:Pulpotomy; D013997:Time Factors; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D044182:Benzylisoquinolines; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005566:Formocresols; C009438:tetrandrine; D003707:Demeclocycline; C001527:Ledermix; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide; C027870:berbamine