allopurinol and Periodontal-Diseases

This study examined the role of free radical-induced tissue damage and the antioxidant defense mechanism of saliva in periodontal disease. Antioxidant activity of saliva was compared in 20 healthy individuals and 17 patients with periodontal diseases. We measured the scavenging capacity of saliva against free radicals generated in vitro by electrolysis, xanthine-xanthine oxidase, or stimulated polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Total protein content and total antioxidant activity of saliva were also determined. The results indicate that stimulated saliva of healthy individuals is significantly more effective (40-50%) than that of patients with periodontal diseases in scavenging a wide variety of free radicals generated in vitro. Under these conditions it appears that the total antioxidant activity of saliva is significantly decreased in these patients despite the fact that the levels of the three main antioxidants (uric acid, ascorbic acid, and albumin) are not significantly affected. We conclude that periodontal diseases are associated with an imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants in favor of the former due to both an increase in free radical production and a defect in the total antioxidant activity of saliva.

Topics: Adult; Albumins; Antioxidants; Ascorbic Acid; Electrolysis; Female; Free Radical Scavengers; Free Radicals; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Neutrophil Activation; Periodontal Diseases; Saliva; Salivary Proteins and Peptides; Uric Acid; Xanthine; Xanthine Oxidase

Reactive oxygen molecules have been implicated as important pathological mediators in many clinical disorders and periodontal disease. To provide possible alternative treatment of periodontal disease, six tannins isolated from Vaccinium vitis-idaea L. were evaluated for anti-lipid peroxidation, anti-superoxide formation and free radical scavenging activity. The results showed that cinnamtannin B1 displayed the strongest anti-lipid peroxidation activity, proanthocyanidin A-1 displayed the strongest superoxide scavenging activity, and epicatechin-(4beta--> 6)-epicatechin-(4beta-->8, 2beta-->O--> 7)-catechin had the strongest anti-superoxide formation effect. We conclude that tannins isolated from V. vitis-idaea L. exhibited multiple antioxidant activity, and could be used for the treatment of periodontal disease.

Topics: Antioxidants; Lipid Peroxidation; Periodontal Diseases; Plant Extracts; Reactive Oxygen Species; Structure-Activity Relationship; Superoxides; Tannins; Xanthine Oxidase