Objectives: To investigate the effect of acemannan on periodontal ligament cell proliferation, differentiation, growth factor and extracellular matrix secretion, in vitro mineralization and periodontal regeneration in animal model.
Methods: Primary human periodontal ligament cells were treated with acemannan. New DNA synthesis, GDF-5, cbfa-1, type I collagen, BMP-2, ALPase activity, and mineralized nodule formation were determined by [3H]-thymidine incorporation, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay, biochemical assay, and Alizarin Red staining, respectively. For in vivo study, Class II furcation defects were performed at premolar teeth of four mongrel dogs. Then acemannan sponges, 10 mg and 20 mg, were applied into those defects. Blood clot in empty defects was used as a negative control group. The 5 µm thickness of serial sections were performed and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Degree of new bone and cementum formation was evaluated at the 30th and 60thday after the operation. The data were expressed as mean+standard error. The results were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance and Dunnett multiple comparisons using the SPSS program for Windows.
Results: Acemannan significantly increased periodontal ligament proliferation, GDF-5, cbfa-1, type I collagen, BMP-2, ALPase activity, and mineralization, compared with the untreated control group. Moreover, the acemannan-treated group accelerated new bone formation significantly at 60thdays.
Conclusions: Our data suggest that acemannan could be a candidate herbal biomolecule for periodontal tissue regeneration.