Combinations of propolis and Ca(OH)2 in dental pulp capping treatment for the stimulation of reparative dentin formation in a rat model

Background: Caries in the dental pulp result in inflammation and damage to the pulp tissue. During inflammation of the pulp, various inflammatory mediators and growth factors are released, including IL-8, IL-10, TLR-2, VEGF and TGF-β through the NF-kB pathway. In the present study, therapy for pulpal caries was performed through pulp capping by giving a combination of propolis and calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2). This treatment was expected to stimulate the formation of reparative dentin as an anti-inflammatory material to prevent pulp tissue damage. Methods: 28 Wistar rats were divided into four groups and treated with Ca(OH)2 with or without the addition of propolis for either 7 or 14 days. Immunohistochemical examination was used to determine the expression of IL-8, IL-10, TLR-2, VEGF, TGF-β in the four treatment groups. Results: The group treated with a combination of propolis and Ca(OH)2 for 7 days showed that the expression of IL-10, IL-8, TLR-2, VEGF, TGF-β increased significantly compared to the treatment group treated with only Ca(OH)2. The expression of IL-10, TLR-2, TGF-β, VEGF increased in the treatment group treated with propolis and Ca(OH)2 for 14 days, while the expression of IL-8 in the decreased significantly. Conclusions: Administration of a combination of propolis and Ca(OH)2 has efficacy in the pulp capping treatment process because it has anti-bacterial and immunomodulatory properties. The results show that it is able to stimulate the process of pulp tissue repair through increased expression of IL-10, TGF-β, VEGF, TLR -2 and decreased expression of IL-8.