UCP2 and periodontitis: <i>In vivo</i>, a rat periodontitis model was established to evaluate the effects and mechanisms of GP in alleviating oxidative damage in periodontal tissues and cells.<h4>Results</h4>Cell experiments showed that GP effectively alleviated H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative damage in hPDLCs by inhibiting UCP2 expression and function, restoring cell viability, and reducing cell apoptosis.