Efficacy of β-caryophyllene for periodontal disease related factors.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the antimicrobial activity of β-caryophyllene against periodontopathogens as well as its inhibitory effects on the expression of inflammatory cytokines and production of volatile sulfur compounds by lipopolysaccharide and periodontopathogenic enzymes, respectively.

Design: The antimicrobial activity of β-caryophyllene againstPorphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, and Treponema denticola was investigated via a susceptibility assay using a microplate reader. THP-1 cells were treated with lipopolysaccharide in the presence or the absence of β-caryophyllene, and the expression and production of inflammatory cytokines were then analyzed by a real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. After fluorescence-labelling lipopolysaccharide, the effect of β-caryophyllene on the binding of lipopolysaccharide to the cell wall was investigated via flow cytometry. The spent culture media of P. gingivalis was shaken with or without β-caryophyllene and gaseous volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) were measured by a gas chromatograph.

Results: β-caryophyllene showed strong the antimicrobial activity against periodontopathogens. It also reduced lipopolysaccharide-induced expression and production of cytokines, thereby inhibiting the binding of lipopolysaccharide-binding to toll-like receptors by interfering with the complex of lipopolysaccharide and CD14 or lipopolysaccharide-binding protein. β-caryophyllene also inhibited the emission of gaseous VSCs produced byP. gingivalis.

Conclusions: β-caryophyllene may improve periodontal health via antimicrobial activity against periodontopathogens, reducing inflammation caused by lipopolysaccharide, and by neutralizing VSCs.