Investigation of taurine and aqueous garlic extract diet supplementation effect on the healing of rat osteoporotic fractures.

BACKGROUND: We have evaluated the effects of taurine and aqueous garlic extract (AGE) as a dietary supplement on osteoporotic fracture (OPF) healing in the ovariectomized rat femur fracture model. METHODS: In this experimental animal study,twenty-four osteoporosis-remodeled female Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into 3 groups (n: 8) according to their supplemented diet; control, taurine, and AGE groups. Unilateral femur middiaphysis mini-open osteotomy was stabilized with Kirschner wires. Six weeks after osteotomy, the rats were sacrificed before the femurs were harvested and OPF healing was evaluated with biochemical, histologic, microcomputed-tomography, and scintigraphic methods. RESULTS: As an indicator of the antiosteoporotic effect, the calcium levels of the taurine group were significantly lower than the AGE and control groups in biochemical analyzes (p < 0.01). In histological studies, the new bone diameter and new bone volume values of the taurine group were significantly higher than the control group (p = 0.002 and p = 0.032, respectively), while higher trabecular-compact callus was observed in the taurine and AGE groups, respectively, compared to the control group. In morphological analyses, taurine and AGE groups had significantly higher bone volume/tissue volume, trabecular number, bone surface density, and lower trabecular separation than the control group (p < 0.05). The scintigraphic imaging showed a significant increase in osteoblastic activity of the taurine group compared to the control group (p = 0.005). DISCUSSION: Taurine and AGE have positive anabolic effects, respectively, on the healing of OPFs, demonstrated by biochemical, histological, morphological, and scintigraphic methods.

Evaluation of the chemopreventive effects of Hypericum perforatum L on DMBA-applied rat oral mucosa.

OBJECTIVE: Hypericum perforatum L also known as St. John's wort is known to have many beneficial properties for the organism including its antioxidant and anticancer activities. It is also known to have shown antiproliferative and cytotoxic effects against various cancer cell lines. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Hypericum perforatum L on 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-induced rat oral squamous cell carcinoma model. DESIGN: The in vitro antioxidant properties of Hypericum perforatum L was determined and an extract was prepared. Thirty Wistar male rats were divided randomly into 4 groups (Control group, DMBA group, HP + DMBA group, HP group). The antioxidant defense mechanisms in tissue and blood samples were evaluated biochemically and immunohistochemically, the carcinomatous changes in connective tissue were investigated immunohistochemically and epithelial changes in the tissue samples were evaluated histopathologically. RESULTS: The extract revealed inhibitory effects on some antioxidant enzymes (catalase, glutathione peroxidase). Immunohistochemical evaluations revealed no invasive changes in the connective tissue. Hypericum perforatum L demonstrated chemopreventive effects although it did not prevent carcinomatous changes altogether. CONCLUSIONS: Hypericum perforatum L is a promising chemopreventive agent and further studies are needed in order to evaluate the full potential of this plant.

Experimental evaluation of the effects of Ankaferd Blood Stopper and collagenated heterologous bone graft on bone healing in sinus floor augmentation.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of collagenated heterologous bone graft (CHBG) and Ankaferd Blood Stopper (ABS), a plant extract, on bone healing after sinus floor augmentation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-six New Zealand rabbits were used. Bilateral sinus augmentation was performed, and 72 bone defects were created. The maxillary sinuses were grafted with four different biomaterials: blood clot (control group), CHBG (Apatos Mix, OsteoBiol, Tecnoss) (graft group), ABS (ABS group), and ABS + CHBG (ABS+graft group). The rabbits were sacrificed at 1, 4, and 8 weeks after surgery. Histochemical and immunohistochemical examinations were performed on all samples. Staining with hematoxylin-eosin and Masson trichrome was performed, and bone marker activity was evaluated. RESULTS: Lymphocyte infiltration was high at the first week in all groups and decreased from 1 to 8 weeks. All materials were biocompatible. Osteoclast numbers increased in the control group from 1 to 8 weeks and decreased in the other groups. There was no new bone formation in week 1 in all groups. New bone formation increased in all groups from 1 to 8 weeks, and at the fourth week, new bone formation was greater in the ABS and ABS+graft groups than in the other groups. There were osteoclasts around the bone graft materials, but degeneration of the graft was seen only in the ABS+graft group at week 8. CONCLUSION: ABS accelerates bone healing in sinus augmentation procedures and can be used alone or with CHBG. CHBG has osteoconductive properties, and ABS can accelerate bone graft degeneration.