Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial evaluation of morin

Luciana Solera Sales; Benjamin Hewitt; Maria Muchova; Fernanda Lourenção Brighenti; Sarah A Kuehne; Melissa M Grant; Michael R Milward

doi:10.1016/j.archoralbio.2025.106343

Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial evaluation of morin

Arch Oral Biol. 2025 Jun 24:178:106343. doi: 10.1016/j.archoralbio.2025.106343. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Luciana Solera Sales¹, Benjamin Hewitt², Maria Muchova³, Fernanda Lourenção Brighenti⁴, Sarah A Kuehne⁵, Melissa M Grant⁶, Michael R Milward⁷

Affiliations

¹ Department of Morphology, Genetics, Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, São Paulo State University (Unesp), School of Dentistry, R. Humaitá, 1680 - Centro, Araraquara, São Paulo 14801-903, Brazil; School of Dentistry, Institute of Clinical Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom. Electronic address: luciana.solera@unesp.br.
² School of Dentistry, Institute of Clinical Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom. Electronic address: b.hewitt@bham.ac.uk.
³ School of Dentistry, Institute of Clinical Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom. Electronic address: mxm1133@alumni.bham.ac.uk.
⁴ Department of Morphology, Genetics, Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, São Paulo State University (Unesp), School of Dentistry, R. Humaitá, 1680 - Centro, Araraquara, São Paulo 14801-903, Brazil. Electronic address: f.brighenti@unesp.br.
⁵ School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, United Kingdom. Electronic address: sarah.kuehne@ntu.ac.uk.
⁶ School of Dentistry, Institute of Clinical Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom. Electronic address: m.m.grant@bham.ac.uk.
⁷ School of Dentistry, Institute of Clinical Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom. Electronic address: m.r.milward@bham.ac.uk.

PMID: 40578119
DOI: 10.1016/j.archoralbio.2025.106343

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity of morin in an epithelial cell culture inflammatory model, as well as its antimicrobial activity against periodontal pathogens. Effects of morin alone or slow-release from a polymer-based formulation were compared.

Methods: An oral epithelial cell line (H400) was pre-conditioned with 0.125 mg/mL morin (free morin or morin in the formulation) for 8 h. The cells were challenged with heat-killed Fusobacterium nucleatum and Porphyromonas gingivalis (MOI 100:1) for 24 h. The production of GM-CSF was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the gene expression levels of IL-8, GM-CSF, IL1B, NF-kB and NLRP3 were evaluated by RT - PCR. Neutrophils were pre-conditioned with 0.01 mg/mL morin and stimulated immediately with heat-killed F. nucleatum or P. gingivalis (MOI 100:1) for 2.5 h and then total reactive-oxygen-species (ROS) levels were determined using enhanced chemiluminescence. F. nucleatum and P. gingivalis as well as a multi-species biofilm (Streptococcus oralis, F. nucleatum and P. gingivalis) were exposed to 1 mg/mL morin for 24 h, planktonic culture and for 7 days, multi-species biofilm. After exposure, the microbial viability (CFU/mL) and biofilm biomass (crystal violet assay) were determined. Live/dead staining and confocal laser scanning microscopy were also performed. Data were submitted to one way ANOVA followed by Tukey's post-hoc test (α=0.05).

Results: Morin and the polymer-based formulation containing morin significantly attenuated secretion of GM-CSF, significantly reduced ROS generation and the gene expression levels of the cytokines tested (p < 0.05). Microbial viability and the biofilm biomass significantly reduced (p < 0.05) after treatment with morin and the polymer-based formulation containing morin.

Conclusions: Morin showed an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect as well as antimicrobial properties against periodontal pathogens. In addition, polymer-based formulation enhanced these effects.

Keywords: Biofilm; Epithelium; Morin; Neutrophil; Periodontitis.