Effects of caffeic acid phenethyl ester on palatal mucosal defects and tooth extraction sockets

Abstract

Aim

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) on palatal mucosal defects and tooth extraction sockets in an experimental model.

Materials and methods

Forty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats with a mean age of 7 weeks and weighing 280–490 g were used in this study. The rats were randomly divided into two groups: group A (the control group, n=21) and group B (the experimental group, n=21). Under anesthesia with ketamine (8 mg/100 g, intraperitoneally), palatal mucosal defects were created and tooth extraction was performed in the rats in groups A and B. Group A received no treatment, whereas group B received CAPE. CAPE was injected daily (10 μmol/kg, intraperitoneally). The rats were killed on days 7, 14, and 30 after the procedures. Palatal mucosa healing and changes in bone tissue and fibrous tissue were evaluated histopathologically.

Result

Pairwise comparisons showed no statistically significant difference between days 7 and 14 in either group (P>0.05). At day 30, bone healing was significantly better in group B (CAPE) than in group A (control) (P<0.05). Fibrinogen levels at day 30 were significantly higher in group A (control) than in group B (CAPE) (P<0.05). Pairwise comparisons showed no statistically significant difference in palatal mucosa healing levels between days 7 and 14 in both groups (P>0.05).

Conclusion

In conclusion, the findings of this study suggest that CAPE can significantly improve tooth socket healing.

Keywords:

• caffeic acid phenyl ester
• palatal mucosa
• tooth extraction socket
• healing

Introduction

Wound healing is a highly ordered and well-coordinated process that involves inflammation, cell proliferation, matrix deposition, and tissue remodeling.¹ Sufficient oral soft tissues and favorable architecture of the alveolar bone are essential to obtaining ideal functional and aesthetic prosthetic reconstruction in all periods of life. Knowledge of the healing process at extraction sites and the mucosa, including contour changes caused by bone resorption and remodeling, is essential. Loss of alveolar bone may occur before tooth extraction because of periodontal disease, periapical pathology, or trauma to teeth and bone. Damage of the hard and soft tissues during tooth extraction procedures may also result in bone loss.²

Nutrition is fundamental to maintaining health. Accelerated tooth socket healing and oral mucosal healing are important for masticatory functions.

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) is a biologically active ingredient extracted from propolis that is used for the isolation and disinfection of hives.^3,4 CAPE is known to have antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities.⁵ It is also a specific inhibitor of the nuclear transcription factor nuclear factor (NF)-κB.⁶ CAPE has been shown to significantly suppress the lipoxygenase pathway of arachidonic acid metabolism during inflammation.⁷ It has also been shown to inhibit HIV-1 integrase⁸ and the proliferation of transformed cells⁹ and induces apoptosis in transformed fibroblasts.¹⁰

CAPE, via suppression of RANKL-induced NF-κB and NFAT activation, has dual effects on osteoclasts; that is, inhibiting osteoclastogenesis and inducing apoptosis. Given that many pathological bone diseases are associated with increased osteoclast formation and activation, our studies imply that this remarkable natural compound might be useful for the prevention or treatment of osteolytic bone diseases.¹¹

The above-described studies show that CAPE is effective in terms of suppressing the inflammatory compounds that cause fibrotic healing and suggest that CAPE may have beneficial effects on soft tissue and tooth extraction socket healing. This study aimed to assess the effects of CAPE on oral soft and hard tissue wounds: tooth extraction sockets and palatal mucosal defects.

Materials and methods

Forty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats with a mean age of 7 weeks and a weight of 280–490 g were used in this study, which was conducted at the Health Institution Research Centre, Dicle University, Diyarbakir, Turkey. The rats were housed individually in plastic cages in a controlled environment (21°C; 12-hour light/12-hour dark cycle) and had free access to drinking water and a diet of standard laboratory rat food pellets. They were randomly divided into two groups and anesthetized with ketamine (8 mg/100 g, intraperitoneally). In group A (the control group, n=21) and group B (the experimental group, n=21), palatal mucosal defects were created and tooth extraction was performed. Group A received no treatment, whereas group B received CAPE. CAPE was injected daily (10 μmol/kg, intraperitoneally).

Palatal mucosal defect procedure

The surgical procedures were performed with the animals under ketamine HCl (35 mg/kg) and xylazine (3 mg/kg) anesthesia. Full-thickness excisional wounds were made on the left side of the hard palatal mucosa, using a 3 mm biopsy punch. All the procedures were performed by the same researcher under aseptic conditions.

Tooth extraction procedure

The left first mandibular molar (M1) was extracted from each rat with a dental explorer (#23). The tip of this instrument was first placed at the distobuccal gingival margin between the first and second molars. The dental explorer was repeatedly rotated in a dorsal and mesial direction to loosen the first molar. The tip was then removed from its original position, placed at the bifurcation between the mesial and distal roots of the first molar, and repeatedly rotated dorsally until extraction was achieved.

Histological evaluation

After surgery, seven rats per group were killed on days 7, 14, and 30, using high-dose ketamine. Bone regeneration, fibrotic healing, and osteoblast activity were evaluated by histopathology. Histological samples were fixed in 10% formalin for 72 hours. After dehydration in a graded alcohol series, they were embedded in paraffin. Then, transverse sections 4–5 μm in size were prepared for each tooth socket defect. All slices were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Histological examination of the slides was carried out using a light microscope. All parameters were evaluated using a blinded histological scoring technique by an experienced histologist. For each defect, the parameters were scored as 0 (none), 1 (poor), 2 (average), and 3 (good).

All animal procedures were approved by the Animal Research Committee of Dicle University and were performed in compliance with the Medical Research Centre university guidelines for the care and handling of experimental animals.

Statistical analysis

Statistical calculations were carried out with SPSS 15 for Windows (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). For all evaluated parameters, normality was tested by the Shapiro-Wilk test. The statistical analyses were performed after the distribution of values was known. Mann–Whitney U-tests were used for between-group comparisons for each point. The level of statistical significance was set at P<0.05.

Results

There was no statistically significant difference in fibrinogen levels and bone healing between days 7 and 14 in the two groups (P>0.05) (Figures 1–4). Bone healing at day 30 was significantly better in group B (CAPE) than in group A (control) (P<0.05; Figures 5 and 6). Fibrinogen levels at day 30 were significantly higher in group A (control) than in group B (CAPE) (P<0.05; Table 1 and Figure 7).

Table 1 Statistical analysis of tooth sockets at days 7, 14, and 30

Day and variable	Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (n=21)	Control (n=21)	P-value, Mann–Whitney U
Day 7
Bone	0.428±0.121	0.321±0.188	0.244^NS
Fibrin	1.00±0.204	1.107±0.133	0.293^NS
Day 14
Bone	0.642±0.133	0.500±0.144	0.081^NS
Fibrin	0.857±0.133	1.035±0.172	0.058^NS
Day 30
Bone	2.035±0.267	1.428±0.345	0.009*
Fibrin	0.607±0.133	0.928±0.278	0.027*

Notes: NS, no statistically significant between-group difference (P>0.05; Mann–Whitney U-test).

* Statistically significant between-group difference (P<0.05 Mann–Whitney U-test). Data are shown as mean ± standard deviation.

Figure 1 Control group at day 7.

Note: Newly formed chondroid and immature bone tissue in inflammatory granulation tissue (hematoxylin and eosin, 100×).

Figure 2 Caffeic acid phenethyl ester group at day 7.

Note: Newly formed chondroid and immature bone tissue in inflammatory granulation tissue (hematoxylin and eosin, 100×).

Figure 3 Control group at day 14.

Note: Newly formed trabecular bone zone in inflammatory granulation tissue (hematoxylin and eosin, 100×).

Figure 4 Caffeic acid phenethyl ester group at day 14.

Note: Trabecular bone tissue containing a small amount of connective tissue (hematoxylin and eosin, 100×).

Figure 5 Control group at day 30.

Note: Trabecular bone tissue containing a small amount of connective tissue (hematoxylin and eosin, 100×).

Figure 6 Caffeic acid phenethyl ester group at day 30.

Note: Trabecular bone tissue containing a small amount of connective tissue (hematoxylin and eosin, 100×).

Figure 7 Histopathological values for tooth sockets at day 30.

Notes: Box-whisker plot showing the correlation between fibrinogen (FIBR) and bone healing in the tooth extraction area. Rats were randomly assigned to two groups: control (palatal mucosal defect with no treatment, n=21) and caffeic acid phenethyl ester (palatal mucosal defect treated with caffeic acid phenethyl ester [caffeic acid phenethyl ester, 10 μmol/kg, daily intraperitoneal injection], n=21). The heavy black horizontal lines show the mean values; the ends of the boxes are the 25th and 75th percentiles; and the error bars represent maximum and minimum values.
Abbreviation: CAPE, caffeic acid phenethyl ester.

There was no statistically significant difference in palatal mucosa healing between days 7 and 14 in both groups (P>0.05) (Figures 8–12 and Table 2).

Table 2 Statistical analysis of palatal mucosa at days 7 and 14

Day	Caffeic acid phenethyl ester	Control	P-value
7	0.426±0.188	0.321±0.121	0.244 ^NS
14	0.642±0.133	0.574±0.121	0.298 ^NS

Notes: NS, no statistically significant between-group difference (P>0.05; Mann–Whitney U-test). Data are shown as mean ± standard deviation.

Figure 8 Control group at day 7.

Note: Surface covered with a thick layer of epithelium in the subepithelial granulation tissue area (hematoxylin and eosin, 100×).

Figure 9 Caffeic acid phenethyl ester group at day 7.

Note: Surface covered with a thick layer of epithelium in the subepithelial granulation tissue area (hematoxylin and eosin, 100×).

Figure 10 Control group at day 14.

Note: Modest increase in fibrous tissue under the near-normal epithelial layer (hematoxylin and eosin, 100×).

Figure 11 Caffeic acid phenethyl ester group at day 14.

Note: Increased fibrous tissue under the near-normal epithelial layer (hematoxylin and eosin, 100×).

Figure 12 Wound healing values for palatal mucosa at days 7 and 14.

Notes: Box-whisker plot showing the wound healing values for palatal mucosa at days 7 and 14 (PAL_7, PAL_14). Rats were randomly assigned to two groups: control (tooth extraction defect with no treatment, n=21) and caffeic acid phenethyl ester (tooth extraction defect treated with caffeic acid phenethyl ester [caffeic acid phenethyl ester, 10 μmol/kg, daily intraperitoneal injection], n=21). The heavy black horizontal lines show the mean values; the ends of the boxes are the 25th and 75th percentiles; and the error bars represent maximum and minimum values.
Abbreviation: CAPE, caffeic acid phenethyl ester.

Discussion

The present study demonstrated that treatment with CAPE influenced tooth socket healing and soft tissue oral structure in an experimental model, as determined by histopathological methods.^12,13 Histopathological assessment revealed significantly improved tooth socket healing with CAPE treatment compared with in untreated controls. Magro Filho and de Carvalho assessed the effects of topical application of CAPE to dental sockets and skin wounds histologically. They reported that topical application of CAPE accelerated epithelial repair after tooth extraction but had no effect on socket healing.¹⁴ Few experimental studies on palatal mucosa healing have been reported.^15–17

Hard palate wounds can occur directly as a result of various etiological factors, including tooth extraction, traumatic injuries, and the resection of neoplasms, or indirectly as a result of surgical procedures.^18,19 Notably, during periodontal plastic surgery and gingival recession treatment procedures, the palatal masticatory mucosa is often injured and is widely used as a donor connective tissue source.²⁰

No histological evaluation of palatal mucosa was performed at day 30 because of the rapid wound closure in the palatal mucosa. In general, palatal mucosal wounds heal rapidly. At 14 days after wounding, palatal mucosal wounds are clinically closed.²¹ Therefore, we did not evaluate palatal mucosa healing at day 30.

Santos and colleagues evaluated the clinical efficacy of a new Brazilian propolis gel formulation in patients diagnosed with denture stomatitis. They verified the complete clinical remission of palatal edema and erythema and suggested that this gel was effective and could be an alternative topical treatment of denture stomatitis.²²

One study reported that local CAPE administration accelerates epithelial healing.¹⁴ However, systemic administration of CAPE had no positive effect on palatal mucosa healing in our study. Although there was no significant difference in palatal mucosa healing, healing was better in the CAPE group than in the control group (Table 2).

Toker and colleagues analyzed the morphometric and histopathological changes associated with experimental periodontitis in rats in response to the systemic administration of CAPE. CAPE significantly reduced periodontitis-related bone loss. The findings of this study provided morphological and histological evidence that CAPE, when administered systemically, prevented alveolar bone loss in the rat model.²³

Guney and colleagues reported that CAPE has beneficial effects on fracture healing, as assessed by several methods, including bone mineral density measurement and radiographic and histopathological evaluation. These findings were supported by changes in the levels of endogenous antioxidant molecules compared with controls.²⁴

Erdem and coworkers stated that use of CAPE can enhance the maturation of newly regenerated bone.²⁵

In our study, bone healing in the tooth socket at day 30 was better in rats treated with CAPE than in control rats (Table 1). Therefore, CAPE increased osteoblastic activity in the tooth extraction socket.

Magro-Filho and de Carvalho showed that local application of CAPE facilitates healing of wounds after surgery in the oral cavity, reduces inflammation, and has an analgesic effect.²⁶ In addition, Lopes-Rocha and colleagues noted a beneficial effect of bee glue on the healing of surgical wounds in the oral cavity. CAPE decreased inflammation and accelerated granulation tissue formation and epithelialization.²⁷

Uçan and colleagues reported that CAPE significantly improved bone defect healing in an experimental study and that CAPE has beneficial effects on bone healing.²⁸ Our findings indicated that treatment with CAPE had beneficial effects on bone healing, as assessed by histopathological evaluation.

Conclusion

Systemic administration of CAPE has a positive effect on tooth socket healing but does not improve soft tissue healing. We suggest that studies including a greater number of animals and local administration of CAPE be carried out before clinical trials are designed.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.