Inhibition of proinflammatory activities of major periodontal pathogens by aqueous extracts from elder flower (Sambucus nigra).
BACKGROUND
Prolonged induction of excessive levels of inflammatory mediators contributes to the pathogenesis of chronic disease states, such as periodontitis. It is thus important to develop safe and effective anti-inflammatory strategies for therapeutic reasons. In this study, we determined the ability of aqueous extracts from elder flower (Sambucus nigra) to inhibit the proinflammatory activity of major virulence factors from the periodontal pathogens Porphyromonas gingivalis and Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans.


METHODS
Monocytes/macrophages or neutrophils were incubated with whole cells of P. gingivalis, A. actinomycetemcomitans, or purified components thereof (lipopolysaccharide and fimbriae) in the absence or presence of elder flower extract and were assayed for cytokine production, integrin activation, or induction of the oxidative burst.


RESULTS
The elder flower extract was found to potently inhibit all proinflammatory activities tested. Investigation of the underlying mechanisms revealed that the anti-inflammatory extract inhibited activation of the nuclear transcription factor kappaB and of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase.


CONCLUSIONS
The elder flower extract displays useful anti-inflammatory properties that could be exploited therapeutically for the control of inflammation in human periodontitis.
Harokopakis
Evlambia
E
Department of Pedodontics, School of Dentistry, Center of Excellence in Oral and Craniofacial Biology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA.
Albzreh
Mohamad H
MH
Haase
Elaine M
EM
Scannapieco
Frank A
FA
Hajishengallis
George
G
D016976:Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D039481:CD11b Antigen / Q000187:drug effects; D018821:CD18 Antigens / Q000187:drug effects; D010861:Fimbriae, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D035264:Flowers; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D007378:Interleukins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D000081082:Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D016897:Respiratory Burst / Q000187:drug effects; D027924:Sambucus nigra; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D039481:CD11b Antigen; D018821:CD18 Antigens; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D007378:Interleukins; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D016328:NF-kappa B; D000081082:Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D037521:Virulence Factors