Abstract

Wound healing is a normal biological mechanism of the body that helps to maintain the integrity of the tissue. In this process, fibroblasts play an important role in supporting wound healing by migrating to the injury site and laying down a new extracellular matrix. Oral wounds heal more rapidly than skin wounds due to the presence of saliva. However, a reduced salivary flow rate or hyposalivation is frequently found in some patients due to their systemic conditions or intake of various medications. In order to control or treat hyposalivation, the use of artificial saliva is recommended for these patients. Various agents were added to artificial saliva to improve its properties. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of artificial saliva containing vanillin on the wound healing of human gingival fibroblasts by inducing cell migration in vitro. Human gingival fibroblasts isolated from human gingiva were purchased from Scien Cell Research Laboratories, USA. The migratory ability of fibroblasts was performed on a confluent monolayer by the wound healing scratch assay. Artificial saliva with different concentrations of vanillin (0.12% to 4% w/v) was added and incubated for 24 h. Artificial saliva without vanillin was used as a control. The migration cells were fixed with 25% methanol and 0.2% toluidine blue. In vitro cell migration to the wound area was determined by photographing with an inverted microscope coupled to a digital camera (Nikon D 5100). In the presence of 0.25%, 0.5%, and 1% w/v vanillin-containing artificial saliva, human gingival fibroblasts had a significantly higher potential to migrate into the wound area than a control (p-value <0.05). Data from this study provides the first scientific evidence to demonstrate the benefits of using artificial saliva containing vanillin to maintain healthy gums and accelerate oral wound healing. Rinsing the mouth with this artificial saliva is recommended as the most preferable method for moistening and lubricating the mouth and facilitating the healing of oral wounds in patients with hyposalivation.