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Abstract
Bone grafting consists of the transplantation of biocompatible material at the site where significant loss of bone substance had occurred, in order to reconstruct bone defects generally caused by trauma, infection or tumor resection [1, 2].
Autologous bone or autograft represents up to this date, the gold standard and most effective method for bone regeneration as it promotes bone formation over its surface by direct bone bonding (osteoconduction) and induces local stem cells to differentiate into bone cells (osteoinduction) without any associated immune response. However, often results in a high donor site morbidity and its availability is limited [3-5].
The emergence of new bone graft options has generated significant uncertainties regarding the determination of the most adequate product for surgical procedures that use synthetic materials. Natural bone substitutes have been investigated including tissues obtained from the same species (allografts) or from different species (heterografts). These graft materials should be biocompatible and non-toxic and should not stimulate inflammatory processes [6, 7].
Use of medicinal plants for graft production is a promising alternative since they are biocompatible, easily applied and stored, and have been shown to favor bone growth [8]. Chenopodium ambrosioides L. (syn. Dysphania ambrosioides (L.) Mosyakin & Clemants), Chenopodiaceae, popularly known as “mastruz” or “erva-de-santa-maria”, is used by the population in Brazil and Latin America [9] as teas, infusions or syrups for the treatment of inflammatory conditions [10] and or contusions and fractures [11, 12]. In addition, Chenopodium ambrosioides occupies the 17th position on the National Register of Plants of Interest to the National Health System (Relacao Nacional de Plantas de Interesse do Sistema Unico de Saude - RENISUS), a list compiled by the Brazilian Government which consists of 71 plant species used in folk medicine for the alternative treatment of health conditions [13]. Experimental studies have shown that C. ambrosioides exerts immunostimulatory [14, 15], antimicrobial [16], anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities [17, 18].
Studies from our group evaluating the effect of a poultice prepared from the leaves of C. ambrosioides on bone healing in rabbits have shown that this medicinal plant accelerates bone regeneration as demonstrated by radiological and histological analysis, highlighting the importance of medicinal plants as biomaterials [8]. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the use of C. ambrosioides as a bone graft substitute for the osseointegration of fractures in rabbits, compared to other bone grafts already employed in the surgical routine as Ricinus communis (castor oil) polyurethane and autogenous bone marrow.