Anti-Inflammation of N-Benzyl-4-Bromobenzamide in Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Human Gingival Fibroblasts

<b><i>Objective:</i></b> To evaluate the effect of N-benzyl-4-bromobenzamide (NBBA) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced IL-6 and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) production in human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs). <b><i>Material and Methods:</i></b> The benzamide compound was synthesized. The condition for IL-6 production of HGFs after induction with LPS was optimized. The HGFs were incubated with NBBA (10 µg/ml) for 30 min before LPS (1 μg/ml) was added. After 24 h of incubation time, the culture media were harvested and their IL-6 and PGE₂ contents were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Prednisolone (PDS) and NS-398 were used as positive controls. Statistical analysis of the IL-6 and PGE₂ contents was performed using the ANOVA test followed by the Tukey multiple-comparisons test to compare replicate means. p < 0.001 was considered statistically significant. <b><i>Results:</i></b> The maximum IL-6 production was achieved when HGFs were exposed to 1 μg/ml of LPS for 24 h, which was inhibited by the IL-6 immunosuppressant PDS. The benzamide compound, NBBA, exhibited a potent anti-IL-6 activity with inhibition of 35.6 ± 0.5%, significantly different from in the LPS-induced HGFs (p < 0.001). In addition, it inhibited 75.6 ± 0.52% PGE₂ production. Cell viability was not significantly affected by treatment with NBBA at a concentration <10 µg/ml (p < 0.001). <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> NBBA exhibited an inhibitory effect on the production of IL-6 and PGE₂ in LPS-induced HGFs. It could serve as a compound with inhibiting inflammatory activity in periodontal disease.