title: Effects of Hypericum Perforatum, in a rodent model of periodontitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hypericum perforatum is a medicinal plant species containing many polyphenolic compounds, namely flavonoids and phenolic acids. In this study we evaluate the effect of Hypericum perforatum in animal model of periodontitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Periodontitis was induced in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats by placing a nylon thread ligature around the lower 1st molars. Hypericum perforatum was administered at the dose of 2 mg/kg os, daily for eight days. At day 8, the gingivomucosal tissue encircling the mandibular first molar was removed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Periodontitis in rats resulted in an inflammatory process characterized by edema, neutrophil infiltration and cytokine production that was followed by the recruitment of other inflammatory cells, production of a range of inflammatory mediators such as NF-κB and iNOS expression, the nitration of tyrosine residues and activation of the nuclear enzyme poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase; apoptosis and the degree of gingivomucosal tissues injury. We report here that Hypericum perforatum exerts potent anti-inflammatory effects significantly reducing all of the parameters of inflammation as described above.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Taken together, our results clearly demonstrate that treatment with Hypericum reduces the development of inflammation and tissue injury, events associated with periodontitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Messina, Italy. ipaterniti@unime.it
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Paterniti
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Briguglio
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mazzon
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Galuppo
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Oteri
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cordasco
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cuzzocrea
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004487:Edema / Q000188:drug therapy; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020902:Hypericum / Q000737:chemistry*; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D020556:Neutrophil Infiltration / Q000187:drug effects*; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D010636:Phenols / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases / Q000378:metabolism; D059808:Polyphenols; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D005419:Flavonoids; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D010636:Phenols; D010936:Plant Extracts; D059808:Polyphenols; D014443:Tyrosine; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases