Abstract: Objective: To study the effect of β-cryptoxanthin on inflammatory factors in rats with experimental periodontitis and to explore its mechanism. Methods: 30 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into normal group (group N), periodontitis group (group P), and β-cryptoxanthin intervention group (group E), with 10 rats of each. Experimental periodontitis model was induced by ligation of bilateral maxillary second molars cervix and injection with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). At the same time, β-cryptoxanthin (12μl/each) was injected in group E at the same site. All groups were treated every 48 hours for three times. Blood was collected and the bilateral maxilla were immediately separated on day 7, the right part of the tissues were subjected to histological analysis, serum and the left gingival tissues were detected by ELISA for IL-1β, TNF-α, and PGE₂. Results: The levels of IL-1β, TNF-α and PGE₂ in group E and group P were higher than those in group N, the infiltration of inflammatory cells was increased and the alveolar bone absorption was obvious. Compared with group P, the levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, and PGE₂ in group E were significantly lower, the infiltration of inflammatory cells was less, and the absorption of alveolar bone was mild. Conclusion: β-cryptoxanthin can decrease the level of inflammatory factors and the inflammatory cells infiltration in tissues, thereby reducing the inflammation of periodontaltissues and alleviating alveolar bone resorption.

Key words: β- cryptoxanthin, Periodontitis, Inflammatory factors, Bone resorption