Asian Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Effect of an Herbal Preparation Fermented by Lactobacillus reuteri LR107 in Preventing Periodontal Inflammation in an Experimental Gingivitis Model

Chun-Chih Huang^a,Tzung-hsien Lai^b,Ren-YeongHuang^c, Kwan-Wei Su^d, Sing-RuLai^e, Alice Lan^a*

^aNew Bellus Enterprises Co., Ltd., Tainan, Taiwan
^bInstitute of pharmaceutics, Development center for biotechnology No. 101,Lane 169, KangningSt., Xizhi Dist., New Taipei city 22180, Taiwan
^cDepartment of Periodontology, School of Dentistry, Tri-Service General Hospital and National Defense Medical Center,Taipei, Taiwan
^dGraduate Institute of Life Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
^eNational Institute of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan

Abstract

Many oral pathogens are implicated in the periodontal diseases. Strategies such as eliminating local microbial load are effective in preventing the progression of the periodontal disease. Many herbal/medicinal plants are known for their antibacterial properties. Fermentation of herbal plants with lactic acid bacteria has known to enhance various bio-active properties, thus the study aimed to investigate the effect of a herbal preparation fermented with Lactobacillus reuteri LR107 in in vitro antibacterial assays and in the experimental periodontal disease. The antibacterial activities were first compared in fermented and non-fermented herbal preparation. Fermented herbal preparation demonstrated a wide-spectrum anti-microbial activity to seven oral pathogens. HPLC and NMR studies further identified the major bioactive markers in the fermented herbal preparation to be berberine and palmatine. Lastly, ligation-induced periodontitis model is used to evaluate the in vivo effect of the fermented herbal preparation. Alveolar bone loss by the preparation was inhibited to a degree similar to that by the doxycycline control. The fermented herbal preparation demonstrated antibacterial activities and preserved alveolar bone resorption in experimental periodontitis.

Keywords:

Periodontal diseases, Lactobacillus reuteri, fermentation