The Role of Hypericum Lydium Boiss. (Hypericaceae) in Soft Tissue Healing and its Capacity to Prevent Infections after Dental Extraction

Abstract

The genus Hypericum sp. has a number of uses in traditional medicine like curing the burns, ulcers, haemorrhoids and wound healing. The species Hypericum lydium Boiss. (Hypericaceae), however, has not been known to have any properties related to the healing of injuries or antimicrobial working against the oral microorganisms. The present study was aimed to evaluate the efficiency of H. lydium in soft tissue healing and its capacity to prevent infections after dental extraction. H. lydium was extracted with ethanol and the obtained extract was tested for its inhibition ability on extracellular matrix-degrading enzymes; collagenase, hyaluronidase and elastase. To determine the cytotoxicity and wound healing capacity of the extract, MTT and in vitro scratch wound healing assay were performed using the NIH-3T3 fibroblast cells, respectively. Antimicrobial activity was investigated by microdilution method against oral pathogenic microorganisms. The highest enzyme inhibition activity was determined against elastase (80.27±0.1%). According to the cytotoxic activity results, the IC50 value of the H. lydium was found to be 82.20±4.05 μg/mL. Scratch wound healing assay of the extract exhibited a significant enhancement at 24 h with a closed wound area when compared with the control. The extract showed potent antimicrobial properties against oral pathogenic microorganisms. The results of the study revealed out that H. lydium can be considered as a natural compound for dental industry to improve soft tissue healing and to prevent the possible infections after dental extraction.