Mesalazine: a novel therapeutic agent for periodontitis via regulation of periodontal microbiota and inhibiting Porphyromonas gingivalis

Our results demonstrated that mesalazine concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 2 mg/mL significantly inhibited <i>P. gingivalis</i> proliferation over 72 h. Flow cytometry revealed a marked reduction in the number of viable cells following mesalazine treatment. At the nanometer scale, mesalazine induced crumpling and rupture of the <i>P. gingivalis</i> surface, compromising cell membrane integrity. Mesalazine not only suppressed the formation of plaque biofilms by <i>P. gingivalis</i> and polymicrobial communities but also disrupted pre-existing biofilms. The data also suggested that mesalazine could disrupt the integrity of the <i>P. gingivalis</i> cell membrane and inhibit the expression of virulence factors. An animal model of periodontitis in rats was successfully constructed <i>in vivo</i>. Mesalazine treatment inhibited alveolar bone resorption, alleviated inflammation of periodontal tissues, and improved the composition of the periodontal flora to a healthier state. This study establishes that mesalazine can treat periodontitis through modulation of the periodontal flora and its anti-inflammatory properties, thus broadening its classical therapeutic applications.