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Updated: May 22, 2026
Bacterial Expression and Purification of Human Matrix Metalloproteinase-3 using Affinity Chromatography
Published on: March 30, 2022
Bioinformatical and in vitro approaches to essential oil-induced matrix metalloproteinase inhibition
Fares Zeidán-Chuliá1, José L Rybarczyk-Filho, Mervi Gursoy
1Department of Biochemistry, Center of Oxidative Stress Research, Institute of Basic Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. fzchulia.biomed@gmail.com
Context:
Essential oils carry diverse antimicrobial and anti-enzymatic properties.
Objective:
Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibition characteristics of Salvia fruticosa Miller (Labiatae), Myrtus communis Linnaeus (Myrtaceae), Juniperus communis Linnaeus (Cupressaceae), and Lavandula stoechas Linnaeus (Labiatae) essential oils were evaluated.
Materials And Methods:
Chemical compositions of the essential oils were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Bioinformatical database analysis was performed by STRING 9.0 and STITCH 2.0 databases, and ViaComplex software. Antibacterial activity of essential oils against periodontopathogens was tested by the disc diffusion assay and the agar dilution method. Cellular proliferation and cytotoxicity were determined by commercial kits. MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities were measured by zymography.
Results:
Bioinformatical database analyses, under a score of 0.4 (medium) and a prior correction of 0.0, gave rise to a model of protein (MMPs and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases) vs. chemical (essential oil components) interaction network; where MMPs and essential oil components interconnected through interaction with hydroxyl radicals, molecular oxygen, and hydrogen peroxide. Components from L. stoechas potentially displayed a higher grade of interaction with MMP-2 and -9. Although antibacterial and growth inhibitory effects of essential oils on the tested periodontopathogens were limited, all of them inhibited MMP-2 in vitro at concentrations of 1 and 5 µL/mL. Moreover, same concentrations of M. communis and L. stoechas also inhibited MMP-9. MMP-inhibiting concentrations of essential oils were not cytotoxic against keratinocytes.
Discussion And Conclusion:
We propose essential oils of being useful therapeutic agents as MMP inhibitors through a mechanism possibly based on their antioxidant potential.
