In vitro tests indicate that cannabidiol can stimulate teeth biomineralization even under inflammatory conditions, thus assisting in tissue repair.
The research was conducted with the support of at the Ribeirão Preto Dentistry Faculty of the University of São Paulo (Forp-USP). The results are published in the Journal of Dentistry.
In the experiment, mice pulp cells were exposed to a cytokine called TNF-α (alpha tumor necrosis factor), involved in various inflammatory and autoimmune processes. Then treated with different concentrations of cannabidiol for periods ranging from 24 hours to 7 days.
“The ability of cells to survive and function in this environment was evaluated, which allowed to determine if the substance has any bioactive effect on them”explains Francisco Wanderley Garcia de Paula-Silva, professor at the institution’s Department of Children’s Clinic, who coordinated the work. The study featured the collaboration of researchers Elaine Del Bel and Glauce Crivelaro do Nascimento Marangoni, both from (Laboratory of Molecular Neurophysiology).
The researchers analyzed the formation of mineralization nodules with the help of a dye called red of alizarin. This process happens thanks to the presence of mesenchymal stem cells in dental pulp that, in the face of some kind of stress, such as an inflammatory process, migrate to the affected sites and differentiate in structures similar to odontoblasts, cells that form and maintain dentin, the innermost layer of the teeth.
At the same time, macrophages, important immune cells, were pre-estimulated with LPS (bacterial lipopolysaccharide)-a toxic component of the cell wall of gram-negative bacteria-before being exposed to substance extracted from sativa cannabis. This test sought to evaluate the effect of cannabidiol on the modulation of the synthesis of inflammatory mediators by macrophages.
The results indicate that treatment with cannabidiol was able to inhibit the synthesis of inflammatory mediators, suggesting an anti-inflammatory effect especially after the 24-hour period. In addition, the substance has stimulated dental biomineralization capacity.
“These findings suggest that cannabidiol can be a promising bioactive substance for tissue repair in inflammatory contexts, which opens new perspectives for its use in dental treatments, especially in regenerative dentistry, benefiting patients in various clinical situations.”says Paula-Silva.
According to the researcher, these findings show that cannabidiol deserves additional investigation so that its effective role in dental practice is established, as the research is still at an early stage. Therefore, the translation of experimental results for clinical applications requires a long process of evaluation and validation.
For this, it is essential to do clinical studies to evaluate efficacy and security in humans. Not only to confirm the observed effects, but also to understand how this substance behaves in different clinical situations, including dosage, forms of administration and potential interactions with other treatments.
In addition, the implementation of new treatments in clinical practice must meet regulatory requirements involving independent evaluations, revisions for ethics committees and approvals of health regulatory agencies. “The growing interest in cannabinoid -based therapies, coupled with a deeper understanding of Cannabidiol’s mechanisms of action, can facilitate future clinical trials, especially as more data become available.”says Paula-Silva.
With information from.
