ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT:Objective To investigate the effects of berberine on matrix metalloproteinases/tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs/TIMPs) in rat periodontitis .Methods Adult male Sprague‐Dawley rats were subjected to thread ligation and porphyromonas gingivalis ( P . gingivalis ) inoculation resulting in periodontitis . Berberine [150 mg/(kg · d)] or vehicle was administered by oral gavage for 4 weeks .Alveolar bone loss and soft‐tissue destruction were determined by micro‐computed tomography (μ‐CT) and HE staining .The contents of tumor necrosis factor‐α(TNF‐α) and interleukin‐1β(IL‐1β) of gingival tissue were examined by ELISA .The expressions of MMP‐2 ,MMP‐9 and TIMP‐2 as well as the phosphorylation of P38 MAPK and NF‐κB were determined by Western blot .Results Significant increases were observed in alveolar bone loss and periodontal soft‐tissue destruction with higher levels of TNF‐α, IL‐1β and MMP‐2/9 expressions and the activities of P38 MAPK and NF‐κB in the experiment periodontitis group .Berberine of [150 mg/(kg · d)] not only improved the periodontal tissue and decreased alveolar bone loss ,but also reduced the contents of TNF‐α,IL‐1βand MMP‐2/9 and increased TIMP‐2 .In addition ,berberine inhibited the phosphorylation of P38 MAPK/NF‐κB .Conclusion Berberine protects against periodontal tissue damage via decreasing MMP‐2 and MMP‐9 expressions but increasing TIMP‐2 expression , which may be induced by inhibition of P38 MAPK/NF‐κB and the anti‐inflammatory effect on rat periodontitis .