Angelica gigas ameliorates the destruction of gingival tissues via inhibition of MMP-9 activity

Angelica gigas (AG) has been used for periodontal diseases in traditional Korean medicine. However, the effects of AG on periodontitis have not been clarified yet. In this study, we investigated the ameliorative effects of AG against ligature-induced periodontitis. Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups; non-ligatured (normal), ligatured and treated with vehicle (ligatured), ligatured and treated with 1 mg mL(−1) AG (AG1), and ligatured and treated with 100 mg mL(−1) AG (AG100). 70% ethanol extracts of AG were topically applied onto both sides of the first molar daily for 14 days. In addition, human dermal fibroblast cells were treated with 1, 10 and 100 μg mL(−1) AG to characterize the expression of matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP-9). Topical AG treatment reduced alveolar bone resorption, as assessed by methylene blue staining. The structures of soft gingival tissues (periodontal pocket) were recovered in the AG-treated groups. The expression of MMP-9 was decreased, and that of type 1 collagen was significantly increased in AG-treated gingival tissues. In addition, AG treatment inhibited the activity of MMP-9 in LPS-treated human dermal fibroblast cells. This study reveals that topical AG treatment has the potential to ameliorate the destruction of gingival tissues by inhibiting MMP-9 activity. AG may be a candidate for the treatment of periodontitis.