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Influence of E-smoking liquids on human periodontal ligament fibroblasts ( Head &Face Medicine)

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According to a 2014 research study published on September 15 in Head & Face Medicine Journal, menthol additives of e-smoking devices have a harmful effect on human periodontal ligament fibroblasts. The study was carried out by researchers;Ines Willershausen, Thomas Wolf, Veronika Weyer, Robert Sader, Shahram Ghanaati and Brita Willershausen. The aim of the present study was to assess the influence of the different e-smoking liquids on the viability and proliferation of human periodontal ligament fibroblasts.

In order to carry out the study, six test solutions with components from E-Cigs were selected: lime-, hazelnut- and menthol-flavored liquids, nicotine, propylene glycol, and PBS as control group.The fibroblasts were incubated up to 96 h with the different liquids, and cell viability was measured by using the PrestoBlue® reagent, the ATP detection and the migration assay. Fluorescence staining was carried out to visualize cell growth and morphology. Data were statistically analyzed by two-tailed one-way ANOVA.

The results of the study showed that the proliferation rates of the cells incubated with nicotine or the various flavored liquids of the e-cigarettes were reduced in comparison to the controls, though not all reductions were statistically significant.

In conclusion, the present in vitro study demonstrated that menthol additives of e-smoking have a harmful effect on human periodontal ligament fibroblasts. This might indicate that menthol additives should be avoided for e-cigarettes.

Read the open access research study here.