The Antioxidant Effects of Sesamol on Bleomycin-Induced Oral Submucous Fibrosis

Abstract

Objective: Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is a disease characterized by abnormal collagen deposition that causes inflammation and malignancy in oral mucosal tissue. Fibroblasts and myofibroblasts, are the cells that show significant activation in the development of OSF. Bleomycin (BL) is a chemotherapeutic agent commonly used in cancer treatment that also causes inflammatory changes in the oral mucosa, initiating fibrosis in the oral submucosal tissue. Sesamol (SE) has antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties which are abundant in sesame seeds and sesame oil, and SE has a beneficial effect on the mucosal layer. This experimental study aimed to investigate SE’s effects on BL-induced OSF. Materials and Methods: The study obtained 18 healthy adult male albino rats aged 3-4 months and weighing 200-250g from Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University’s Experimental Animal Application and Research Center. The rats were divided randomly into control, BL, and BL + SE groups (n = 6 in each group). A model of OSF was established in the rats by administering 0.5 mg/mL of BL and 50 mg\kg of SE to the BL+SE group each day. The hematoxylin and eosin stain and Masson’s trichrome stain were used to assess histopathological changes in the oral mucosa. Results: The results revealed SE to have beneficial effects on BL-induced OSF through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Histopathological evaluations and biochemical analysis of oral submucosal tissue samples also revealed SE to provide statistically significant protection against fibrosis in the oral mucosa (p < 0.01). Conclusion: This study has demonstrated oral submucous fibrosis that develops due to BL as well as SE to have an antioxidant effect on OSF regarding BL-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) activation and collagen synthesis.