Abstract
In this study, we investigated effects of 18α- and 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid (18α- and 18β-GA), that induce apoptosis and inhibit proliferation in multiple types of cells, on apoptosis and proliferation of human gingival fibroblasts to establish the medication of phenytoin (PHT)- and cyclosporin A (CsA)-induced gingival overgrowth. It has been reported that the cause of this disease was related to depressed apoptosis and enhanced proliferation in gingival fibroblasts exposed to drugs. Cells were stimulated in serum-free DMEM for 1 week without stimulant, with only PHT (20 μg/mL) or CsA (10 μg/mL), and with PHT or CsA + 18α- or 18β-GA (both 10 μM), and then cell apoptosis, viability, and proliferation were measured. 18α-GA induced apoptosis and cell-growth inhibition in gingival fibroblasts cultured with PHT and 18β-GA also induced those in gingival fibroblasts cultured with CsA. Therefore, 18α-GA and 18β-GA may apply for the medication of PHT- and CsA-induced gingival overgrowth respectively.
