Resumen
Damaged dental pulp undergoes oxidative stress and 4-hexylresorcinol (4HR) is a well-known antioxidant. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of a 4HR ointment on damaged dental pulp. Pulp cells from rat mandibular incisor were cultured and treated with 4HR or resveratrol (1?100 µM). These treatments (10?100 µM) exerted a protective effect during subsequent hydrogen peroxide treatments. The total antioxidant capacity and glutathione peroxidase activity were significantly increased following 4HR or resveratrol treatment (p < 0.05), while the expression levels of TNF-a and IL1ß were decreased following the exposure to 4HR pre-treatment in an in vitro model. Additionally, the application of 4HR ointment in an exposed dental pulp model significantly reduced the expression of TNF-a and IL1ß (p < 0.05). Conclusively, 4HR exerted protective effects against oxidative stress in dental pulp tissues through downregulating TNF-a and IL1ß.