Researchers in Brazil have created a new biomaterial made from jackfruit latex, pomegranate peel extract, and simvastatin (a statin-based drug) that could provide a more effective way to treat gingivitis, a serious form of gum disease.
A team from the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences (FCMS) at the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo (PUC-SP) in Sorocaba, developed the material as part of an effort to improve treatment options for a condition that affects the tissue supporting teeth.
Gingivitis is a chronic inflammatory disease caused by infection. Over time, this can destroy the structures that hold teeth in place, leading to bone loss and reduced attachment between teeth and surrounding tissue.
Current treatments are designed to control infection and inflammation, but they generally do little to regenerate damaged gum tissue. Other methods, including guided tissue regeneration and bone grafting, have been explored, but their results can vary and are often difficult to predict.
Combining natural materials and medicine
To overcome these limitations, researchers have studied natural bioactive substances that can treat several aspects of the disease at the same time.
“We began to look at latex extracted from the jackfruit plant as an interesting alternative, as it has adhesive properties. This led us to believe that it could remain longer in the site of gingivitis, promoting a more targeted release of therapeutic compounds and possibly reducing the need to use systemic antibiotics,” explains Professor Eliana Aparecida de Rezende Dueck, from the Department of Surgery at FCMS.
Dweck coordinated the study supported by FAPESP (Projects 23/17083-8 and 23/12039-0) and published in the journal Polymer Bulletin.
The researchers combined jackfruit latex with pomegranate peel extract, known for its antimicrobial properties when applied topically, and simvastatin, an anti-inflammatory drug that has also been studied for its ability to stimulate bone formation. Together the ingredients formed a mucoadhesive matrix designed to act directly on damaged tissue.
Using simvastatin in this way may offer another advantage. When taken orally, most of the drug is retained by the liver, and only a small amount enters the bloodstream. As a result, higher doses are often needed, which increases the risk of side effects, including severe muscle atrophy. Delivering medication directly to the affected area can help avoid this problem.
Jackfruit latex gel test
To create the biomaterial, scientists hand-collected latex from freshly harvested jackfruit and carefully purified it. Pomegranate peel extract was then incorporated into the material.
The team conducted a series of physical, chemical and biological analyzes to better understand how the biomaterial is structured and how it behaves under laboratory conditions.
As the researchers conducted In the laboratory A study using human adipose-derived stem cells. Simvastatin was added to the gel at concentrations of 0.3%, 0.6%, and 1.2%. These levels did not alter the structure of the gel and were considered technically safe.
All three concentrations enhanced osteoclastogenesis, the process that encourages cells to develop into bone-forming tissue, within 14 days. The effect became stronger after 21 days, supporting the substance’s potential as a treatment for gingivitis.
Encouraging early results
“In general, the results were very encouraging for us,” says Dweck. “We noticed that the developed biomaterial has great potential for future applications in the treatment of periodontitis and in other areas as well, especially since it includes a substance that has not received much attention in the scientific literature for biomedical use.”
She cautions that more research is still needed before the technology can approach clinical use.
“Despite these promising results, we continue to move forward with new studies to more comprehensively evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the system,” she adds.
