Many inflammations due to infections in the human body do not occur because of the presence of factors that provoke them, such as bacteria, but because of the excessive response of the organism itself. This is what happens with the swelling and bleeding of the gums (periodontitis), an uncomfortable situation that can even lead to the loss of teeth.
This situation is due, according to a report from the National University, to the fact that although the condition begins with bacteria, the real problem is that the body reacts too strongly, “as if it used a hammer to kill a fly,” and ends up damaging its own tissues. That exaggerated reaction is what, over time, destroys the support of the tooth.
According to the Ministry of Health, in Colombia around 61 % of adults suffer from periodontitis, with the dangerous addition that it can also worsen heart, lung and metabolic problems, especially in people with diabetes. Eliminating the bacteria helps, but it is not enough, since the greatest damage is not directly caused by the microorganism but by the inflammatory response of the body itself, which continues to be active even after treatment, insists the News Agency of the UNAL.
Research with uchuva
One of the main responsible agents of this process is the bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis, which, by altering the balance of the oral microbiota, activates an “inflammatory storm” in the gums. “To survive, the bacterium does not need to completely eliminate the immune system, but to manipulate it: it activates it enough to generate inflammation, but avoids being eliminated. That balance in its favor is what keeps the disease active for years, even a lifetime,” explains the Agency.
The researcher Sara Delgadillo Barrera, master in Pharmacology of the UNAL, dedicated herself to studying this phenomenon, and worked with real human gum cells (collected from patients), known as gingival fibroblasts, which not only maintain the structure of the tissue, but also participate in the inflammatory response.
In the laboratory, these cells were stimulated with lysates of the bacterium P. gingivalis, that is, fragments that preserve the molecules capable of activating inflammation, which allows to reproduce in a controlled way what happens in the disease, explains the UNAL Agency. Afterwards, the uchuva extract in microemulsion was applied and its effect was evaluated by measuring inflammatory mediators (such as IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α) through techniques such as real-time PCR and Luminex, in addition to verifying cell viability to rule out toxic effects.
The results showed a significant reduction in the production of these mediators in the treated cells, which indicates a lower inflammatory response. In other words, uchuva does not eliminate the bacteria, but it does modulate the body’s reaction. This effect, similar to lowering the intensity of an overactivated alarm, was achieved without affecting the health of the cells, which suggests its potential as a basis for future complementary treatments.
The richness represented by uchuva
Colombia is the main producer and exporter of uchuva in the world, which makes it an emblematic fruit of the country. Inside it contains compounds such as polyphenols and phytosterols that can interfere in the cellular pathways responsible for inflammation. These substances act as regulators: they do not completely block the immune response, but prevent it from becoming harmful.
“Although for decades the treatment of periodontitis has focused on eliminating bacteria, today it is recognized that in chronic diseases the problem is not only the pathogen, but how the organism responds,” said the researcher, cited in the bulletin.
In addition, current treatments have limitations: the prolonged use of antibiotics can generate bacterial resistance, and some antiseptics, such as chlorhexidine, can cause side effects. That is why it is a priority to find alternatives that act in a more balanced way.
In this context, natural extracts have gained interest because they can act on multiple mechanisms at the same time. Unlike many traditional drugs, which have a single target, these compounds influence several biological pathways, which makes them especially useful in complex diseases. In fact, extracts of plants such as turmeric or fruits such as pomegranate have shown promising results.
The next step will be to test this extract in more complex models, and later in clinical trials. Only then will its therapeutic use be able to be confirmed, but this is the first study that explores the potential of uchuva in dentistry, opening a new line of research.