The Effect of Bovine Lactoferrin on Fusobacterium nucleatum: A Study on Its Antibacterial and Immunomodulatory Properties in Periodontitis Management

Background Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease that leads to progressive destruction of periodontal tissues, significantly impacting global health. Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn) plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of periodontitis due to its synergistic interactions with other periodontal pathogens. Lactoferrin (LF), a multifunctional glycoprotein, has shown promising antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, but its effects on Fn have not been fully explored. Objective This study aims to assess the antibacterial activity of bovine lactoferrin (bLF) against F. nucleatum and to explore its potential as an adjunctive therapy in periodontitis. Methods Bovine lactoferrin was tested at various concentrations (2.5, 5, and 10 mg/mL) against F. nucleatum in vitro. Antibacterial effects were assessed using optical density (OD) measurements and colony-forming unit (CFU) enumeration. The biocompatibility of bLF was evaluated in L929 fibroblast cells. Results Lactoferrin exhibited a dose-dependent inhibition of bacterial growth, with significant suppression of bacterial proliferation at concentrations of 5 and 10 mg/mL (p < 0.05). The antibacterial effects were primarily bacteriostatic, with no complete inhibition observed. Biocompatibility tests indicated that lactoferrin demonstrated acceptable cytocompatibility, with minimal cytotoxicity at lower concentrations. Conclusions Bovine lactoferrin shows potential as an adjunctive antimicrobial agent in periodontitis therapy, offering a novel approach to managing F. nucleatum-induced periodontal disease. Further in vivo studies are needed to validate these findings and explore their clinical applications.