Int J Stomatol

Int J Stomatol ›› 2026, Vol. 53 ›› Issue (4): 513-525.doi: 10.7518/gjkq.2026128

• Original Article • Previous Articles    

Evaluation of the therapeutic effect of Lactobacillus plantarum SLH on experimental periodontitis

Luhong Shu1,2(),Hangjiyun Li1,2,Ting Zhang3,4,Yan Zhao3,4,Guzhen Cui3,4,Wei Hong1,3,Jian Liao1,2()   

  1. 1.School of Stomatology/Stomatological Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550004, China
    2.Key Laboratory of Oral Disease Research, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550004, China
    3.Key Laboratory of Endemic and Ethnic Diseases of the Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550004, China
    4.Dept. of Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China
  • Received:2025-06-09 Revised:2026-02-11 Online:2026-07-01 Published:2026-06-25
  • Contact: Jian Liao E-mail:1935679099@qq.com;liaojian@gmc.edu.cn
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China(82260198);Outstanding Young Ta-lent Training Program of Guizhou Medical University [Outstanding Young Talents at Guizhou Medical University (2022)101];Science and Technology Plan Project in Guizhou Province (Qiankehe Foundation-ZK[2022] General 401);National Natural Science Foundation of China (82260198, 32170134); Outstanding Young Ta-lent Training Program of Guizhou Medical University [Outstanding Young Talents at Guizhou Medical University (2022)101]; Science and Technology Plan Project in Guizhou Province (Qiankehe Foundation-ZK[2022] General 401)

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Abstract:

Objective　This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic potential of clinically isolated Lactobacillus plantarum SLH in experimental periodontitis. Methods　A strain of Lactobacillus plantarum SLH, isolated and purified from fecal samples of healthy infants, served as the experimental subject. Following Gram staining for morphological observation, its growth curve and acid production curve were plotted. The antibacterial activity of the bacterial cells and the cell-free fermentation supernatant against Fusobacterium nucleatum and Porphyromonas gingivalis was assessed using Oxford cup agar diffusion assay. The inhibitory effect of this strain on periodontal biofilm formation was evaluated via crystal violet staining assay. Furthermore, the strain’s tolerance to lysozyme and its in vitro anti-inflammatory capacity were determined. Subsequently, an experimental periodontitis model was established in rats by using ligature-induced method with 4-0 silk sutures. Twenty-four rats were randomly allocated into three groups (n=8 per group): a healthy control group, a periodontitis group, and an Lactobacillus plantarum SLH treatment group. A suspension of Lactobacillus plantarum SLH was prepared in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) containing 2% sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as a vehicle. This suspension was administered locally into the periodontal pockets at the ligation sites in the treatment group. The healthy control and periodontitis groups received local injections of an equal volume of the vehicle (2% CMC in PBS) only. This treatment regimen continued for 7 consecutive weeks. Upon completion of the administration period, clinical periodontal parameters, including the gingival sulcus bleeding index and probing pocket depth, were measured for all rats, followed by histopathological evaluation of the periodontal tissues. Results　A probiotic strain was successfully isolated and purified. Following identification by 16S rDNA sequencing, it was designated as Lactobacillus plantarum SLH. Antibacterial and biofilm formation assays demonstrated that the cell-free fermentation supernatant of this strain exhibited significant inhibitory activity against the periodontal pathogens Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum (P<0.05). Lysozyme tolerance test indicated that Lactobacillus plantarum SLH could withstand a relatively high concentration (3 mg/mL) of lysozyme. Furthermore, Lactobacillus plantarum SLH significantly reduced the expression levels of the inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and IL-6 in an inflammatory cell model (P<0.000 1). In the animal experiment, compared with the control group, the periodontitis group showed significant increases in the gingival sulcus bleeding index and probing pocket depth (P<0.000 1). Administration of Lactobacillus plantarum SLH resulted in a significant reduction in sulcus bleeding index (SBI) and probing depth (PD) compared with the treatment of periodontitis groups (P<0.000 1). The body weight of the periodontitis group decreased compared with that of the controls (P<0.05), and the Lactobacillus plantarum SLH treatment group showed a significant increase in body weight compared with the periodontitis group (P<0.000 1). Micro-computed tomography analysis revealed pronounced alveolar bone resorption in the periodontitis group. This bone loss was significantly attenuated in the Lactobacillus plantarum SLH treatment group compared with the periodontitis group (P<0.001). Histopathological examination using hematoxylin and eosin staining showed a marked alleviation of inflammatory cell infiltration and tissue damage in the periodontal tissues of rats treated with Lactobacillus plantarum SLH. Conclusion　Lactobacillus plantarum SLH exerts significant ameliorative effects on experimental periodontitis and holds potential as an adjunctive therapy for periodontal disease.

Key words: periodontitis, Lactobacillus plantarum, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Fusobacterium nucleatum, animal model, inflammatory response

CLC Number: 

  • R781.4+2

TrendMD: 

Tab 1

Primer sequence"

基因引物序列（5’—3’）
β-actin

F：AGGTCGGTGTGAACGGATTTG

R：TGTAGACCATGTAGTTGAGGTCA

IL-6

F：AGTCCGGAGAGGAGACTTC

R：AGTCCGGAGAGGAGACTTC

IL-1β

F：ACAAAATACCTGTGGCCTTGGG

R：TTGTTTCCCAGGAAGACAGGCT

TNF-α

F：AGAAAGCATGATCCGCGACGT

R：AGAAAGCATGATCCGCGACGT

Fig 1

Lactobacillus plantarum SLH colony morphology and Gram stain"

Fig 2

Phylogenetic tree of Lactobacillus plantarum SLH 16S rDNA"

Fig 3

Growth curve and acid yield curve of Lactobacillus plantarum SLH"

Fig 4

Antibacterial effect of Lactobacillus plantarum SLH bacterial cells and fermented supernatan"

Tab 2

Inhibitory activity of Lactobacillus plantarum SLH bacteriophage and its supernatant against Fusobacterium nucleatum and Porphyromonas gingivalis"

组别抑制具核梭杆菌的抑菌圈直径/mm抑制牙龈卟啉单胞菌的抑菌圈直径/mm
氯己定32.43±2.5335.75±1.23
植物乳杆菌-SLH菌体--
MRS培养基15.03±1.4915.27±0.29
植物乳杆菌-SLH上清液26.20±1.98***31.77±2.63****

Fig 5

Analysis of dental plaque biofilm formation inhibition"

Fig 6

Growth density of Lactobacillus plantarum SLH at different lysozyme concentrations"

Fig 7

Effect of Lactobacillus plantarum SLH on the mRNA expression of inflammatory factors in cells"

Fig 8

Establishment of the rat periodontitis model and measurement of periodontal clinical parameters"

Fig 9

Analysis of periodontal tissues by HE staining and Micro-CT scanning"

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