Extract Inhibits Interleukin-1-Induced MMP-1, MMP-3, and Inflammatory Cytokine Expression by Suppressing the Activation of MAPK and STAT-3 in Human Gingival Fibroblasts In Vitro.

Periodontitis is a Gram-negative bacterial infectious disease. Numerous inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-1 (IL-1), regulate periodontitis pathophysiology and cause periodontal tissue destruction. In human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs), IL-1 stimulates the production of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and proinflammatory cytokines via various mechanisms. Several transcription factors, such as signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT-3), activator protein 1 (AP-1), and nuclear factor-B (NF-B), regulate gene expression. Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) regulate these transcription factors. However, the MAPK/STAT-3 activation signal in HGFs is unknown. We investigated the potential inhibitory effects of the extract of (EFE), the dried, ripe fruit of , on MMP and proinflammatory cytokine expression in IL-1-stimulated HGFs. EFE inhibited the expression of MMP-1, MMP-3, and proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-, IL-6, and IL-8) in IL-1-stimulated HGFs through the inhibition of IL-1-induced MAPK/STAT-3 activation. Also, these results suggest that the EFE may be a useful for the bioactive material for oral care.