Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Yellow Passion Fruit Bagasse Extract and Its Potential Role in Periodontal Wound Healing In Vitro

<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Periodontal disease involves chronic immunoinflammatory processes and microbial dysbiosis, making phytochemicals with anti-inflammatory properties potential therapeutic agents. This study aimed to assess the modulatory effects of yellow passion fruit bagasse extract (PFBE) on periodontal cells under microbial condition. <b>Methods</b>: A human periodontal ligament (PDL) cell line was exposed to <i>F. nucleatum</i> ATCC 25586 to simulate a microbial environment in vitro in the presence and absence of PFBE containing three different concentrations (0.25, 0.50, and 1.00 µg/mL) of piceatannol. Pro-inflammatory markers (TNF-α, IL-8, CCL2), the antioxidant enzyme SOD2, and the protease marker MMP-1 were analyzed by real-time PCR. Protein levels were assessed via ELISA and NF-κB nuclear translocation by immunofluorescence. Cell viability was investigated using live/dead and alamarBlue assays, and in vitro wound healing was evaluated by an automated scratch assay. <b>Results</b>: PDL cells exposed to <i>F. nucleatum</i> significantly increased the gene and protein expression of all inflammatory markers. The stimulatory effects of <i>F. nucleatum</i> were significantly reduced when PDL cells were simultaneously exposed to PFBE. <i>F. nucleatum</i> triggered the NF-κB nuclear translocation while PFBE abrogated the <i>F. nucleatum</i>-stimulated NF-κB nuclear translocation at 60 min. Viability assays demonstrated that neither PFBE nor <i>F. nucleatum</i> were toxic or significantly affected PDL cell viability. In vitro wound closure was improved by the addition of PFBE to <i>F. nucleatum</i>. <b>Conclusions</b>: PFBE exhibited anti-inflammatory and anti-proteolytic effects while improving in vitro wound healing, suggesting a potential modulatory role of PFBE in periodontal disease prevention and treatment.