Effects of grape seed proanthocyanidins extract on rat mandibular condyle

We investigated the effects of grape seed proanthocyanidins extract (GSPE) on bone formation by examining total and cortical bone mass, density, architecture, and strength non-invasively using mandibular condyles of Ca-restricted rats. Forty Wistar male rats, each 5 weeks old, were divided into control (C), low-Ca diet (LCaD), low-Ca diet-standard diet (LcaD x SD), and low-Ca diet x Estandard diet with supplementary GSPE (LcaD x SD+GSPE) groups. In LCaD x SD group, after the bone debility was induced by low-Ca diet, a standard diet therapy was given. In LCaD x SD+GSPE group, after the bone debility was induced by low-Ca diet, a standard diet therapy with supplementary GSPE was given. Each mandibular condyle was examined using peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT). There were no significant inter-group differences in body weight seen throughout the experimental period. In LcaD x SD+GSPE, cortical bone cross-sectional area and mineral content were not significantly different from C, while bone mineral content was significantly higher in LcaD x SD+GSPE than in LcaD x SD. Cortical bone density of LcaD x SD+GSPE was not significantly different from that of C, however, that value in LCaD and LcaD x SD was significantly lower than that. The cross-sectional (bending) moment of inertia values in LcaD x SD+GSPE were the highest among all groups, though they did not differ significantly from those in C. Further, the cross-sectional (bending) Stress/Strain Index (SSI) values in LcaD x SD+GSPE were statistically similar to those in C, however, not significant higher than in LcaD x SD. These results suggest that GSPE treatment would increase both bone mass and bone strength on the rat mandibular condyles.