Does α-lipoic acid therapeutically effective against experimentally induced-acute pulpitis in rats?

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate the therapeutic effects of α-lipoic acid (ALA) on an induced-acute pulpitis model in rats. Twenty-four Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into three groups: control, induced-acute pulpitis (PULP) and PULP+ALA groups. In the PULP and PULP+ALA groups, the crowns of the maxillary left incisors were removed horizontally. All exposed pulp tissues were treated with 5µL LPS solution. In the PULP+ALA group, the rats were treated intraperitoneally with a single dose of ALA (100mg/kg). The rats were sacrificed 24h after pulp injury, and the trunk blood and pulp samples were collected and then determined using ELISA assay kits. TNF-α, IL-1β, MMP-1 and MMP-2levels in the serum and pulp tissues were considerably higher in the PULP group than the control group (p<0.01-0.001). In the PULP+ALA group, TNF-α, IL-1β, MMP-1 and MMP-2levels in the serum and pulp tissues decreased significantly compared to the PULP group (p<0.05-0.001). ALA decreases pro-inflammatory mediators and proteolytic enzymes, which might relieve acute inflammation.