Effect of Boswellic Acid on Viability of Dental Pulp Stem Cells Compared to the Commonly Used Intracanal Medications: An In Vitro Study

Abstract

Aim: This study was aimed at evaluating the effect of acetyl-11-keto-β-boswellic acid (AKBA) on dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) viability and proliferation to be used as a potential root canal medicament. Materials and methods: Dental pulp stem cells were isolated from human third molars. The phenotypic characterization of DPSCs was verified by flow cytometry analysis. The viability assay was performed using the methyl-thiazoltetrazolium (MTT) assay. Cells were treated with different concentration of triple antibiotic paste (TAP) and calcium hydroxide Ca(OH2) (5, 2.5, 1, 0.5, and 0.25 mg/mL), AKBA (10, 5, 1, 0.1, and 0.01 μM). All experiments were done in separate triplicate experiments. Results: Dental pulp stem cells were characterized by flow cytometry. Cells treated with Ca(OH)2 (1, 2.5, and 5 mg/mL) showed significantly reduced viability compared with the control cells (p < 0.05). Dental pulp stem cells treated with 1, 2.5, and 5 mg/mL TAP resulted in a significant decrease in viability (p < 0.05). Cells treated with AKBA in concentrations (1, 0.1, and 0.01 μM) demonstrated higher viability than the control group (p < 0.05), while AKBA in concentrations (5 and 10 μM) showed equal or decreased viability than the control group. (p > 0.05). Regarding cell density assay, AKBA showed significant increase in cell density after 5 and 7 days compared with cells medicated with TAP and Ca(OH)2 while TAP revealed marked reduction in cell density in all the tested intervals. Conclusion: Acetyl-11-keto-β-boswellic acid in lower concentrations (0.01, 0.1, and 1 μM) demonstrated superior cell viability than TAP and Ca(OH)2, and it may possess the potential to be an intracanal medicament in regenerative endodontics. Clinical significance: Studying the effect of different potential root canal medicaments and their capability to induce DPSCs proliferation might be of value. The influence of AKBA on the viability and proliferation of DPSCs tested in this study sheds light on its use as a potential intracanal medication especially in regenerative endodontics.