Objectives: To investigate the effect of acemannan, the polysaccharide extracts of Aloe vera gel, on the proliferation and differentiation of pulpal fibroblasts from human deciduous teeth.
Methods: Acemannan was isolated and characterized by HPLC, GC-MS and 13C-NMR. Cells were treated with acemannan 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4 and 8 mg/ml. After 24, 48 and 72 hours, MTT assay was performed to determined cell cytotoxicity. New DNA synthesis and alkaline phosphatase activities were determined by [3H]-thymidine incorporation and biochemical assay, respectively. To determine effect of acemannan on type I collagen, BMP-2 and VEGF expressions, cells conditioned medium were also collected and detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA).
Results: From MTT assay, acemannan did not have cytotoxicity to human deciduous pulpal fibroblasts at 24, 48 and 72 hours (p < 0.05). Acemannan at concentration 2, 4 and 8 mg/ml significantly increase new DNA synthesis. Acemannan significantly increased ALP activities, type I collagen, BMP-2 and VEGF expressions compared with the untreated group.
Conclusions: These findings suggested that acemannan may play a role in dentin regeneration of dental pulp by stimulating pulpal fibroblast cell proliferation, differentiation, and extracellular matrix formation.