Escin inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation in human periodontal ligament cells

Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease associated with gram-negative subgingival microflora infection. Accumulating experimental evidence suggests that escin exerts anti-inflammatory and anti-edematous effects. This study was designed to investigate the in vitro effects of escin on the inflammatory reaction of human periodontal ligament cells (hPDLs). hPDLs were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The cells were treated with various concentrations of escin. The viability of hPDLs was evaluated using the MTT method. The expression of Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) in hPDLs and the levels of IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6 in the supernatant were measured. Escin significantly attenuated LPS-induced cytotoxicity in a concentration-dependent manner in hPDLs. Treatment with escin partly blocked the expression of TLR2. Escin also lowered the increase of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6) induced by LPS. The present findings show that escin exerts a protective effect against LPS-induced inflammation in hPDLs. It was also shown that escin is a promising medicine for the treatment of periodontitis.