Ameliorative effect of quercetin on the destruction caused by experimental periodontitis in rats

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of quercetin, a flavonol that exhibits anti-inflammatory properties, on experimental periodontal destruction in rats.

Osteoclast formation on maxillary palatal alveolus was induced with daily lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injections (0, 1 or 5 mg/mL) for 3 d. Five days later, the osteoclasts on bony surfaces were counted after histochemical staining for tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase. The effect of intragastric quercetin on the osteoclast formation was evaluated in the following three groups: quercetin (75 mg/kg/d by oral feeding); LPS (5 mg/mL); and quercetin plus LPS. Moreover, the effect of quercetin on the ligature-induced periodontitis around maxillary second and mandibular first molars was further evaluated by microcomputerized tomography (on days 0, 4, 8 and 12) and by histometry (on day 8).

A dose-dependent increase in osteoclasts occurred after LPS injections. However, quercetin (75 mg/kg) reduced the 5 mg/mL LPS-induced osteoclasts. Using microcomputerized tomography, the bone crest levels at ligation sites were found to be significantly more apical than at the control sites on days 8 and 12; however, the apically located bone crests rebounded in rats from the quercetin-plus-ligation group. Histometry demonstrated significantly more coronal alveolar crest bone levels, less inflammatory cell-infiltrated connective tissue areas and less connective tissue attachments in the ligation-plus-quercetin group compared with those in the ligation group.

As the quercetin could reduce the LPS-induced osteoclast formation and the ligature-enhanced periodontal inflammation and bone loss, we suggest that it may have an ameliorative effect on periodontal destruction.