Kaempferol Effects on Human Gingival Fibroblasts

Objective: Kaempferol is a natural flavonol found in many dietary fruits, vegetables, and medicinal herbs. It reportedly has multiple beneficial properties as analyzed in vivo and in vitro. The objective of this study was to determine cytoprotective, anti-inflammatory, and wound healing characteristics of kaempferol in cultured human gingival fibroblasts. Materials & Methods: To determine cytotoxicity and doseresponse, commercially available human gingival fibroblasts were cultured in 0, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 250 or 500 μM kaempferol for 24 hours prior to a colorimetric MTT assay. To determine anti-inflammatory effects, gingival fibroblasts were pre-treated with one of several concentrations of kaempferol and challenged with 10 ng/ml tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα). Culture supernatants were assayed for levels of secreted interleukin-8 by ELISA. Kaempferol effects on the cell migration phase of wound healing in confluent nicotine-treated fibroblasts were determined using an in vitro scratch assay. Results: By MTT assay kaempferol at 5, 10, 25, and 50 μM was not detrimental to gingival fibroblast survival, in contrast 100, 250, and 500 μM kaempferol proved to be highly cytotoxic to gingival fibroblasts. Kaempferol at 5, 10, 25, and 50 μM significantly suppressed TNFαinduced IL8 secretion. Of concentrations assayed, 5 μM kaempferol significantly stimulated the migration of gingival fibroblasts from a scratch wound edge 24 hours post-wound. In nicotine-treated gingival fibroblasts, 5 μM kaempferol significantly increased the migration of gingival fibroblasts from the wound edge. The cells migrating from the wound edge retained the characteristic elongated spindle morphology. Conclusion: In cultured human gingival fibroblasts, kaempferol demonstrates cytoprotective, anti-inflammatory, and pro-migratory properties in a concentration-dependent manner. These properties of kaempferol have implications for oral cavity mucosal wound healing.