Plant Extracts in the Bone Repair Process: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Science
• Pharmacology
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Bone lesions represent a significant public health concern with substantial socioeconomic impact.
• Bone repair involves a complex inflammatory process coordinated by osteoprogenitor cells.
• Research into plant-derived antioxidants for bone lesion treatment is expanding globally.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review studies on animal models investigating the anti-inflammatory effects of plant extracts on bone lesions.
• To analyze the methodological quality of research in this field.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review was conducted using PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science databases.
• Studies were selected based on PRISMA guidelines, focusing on animal models, bone repair, and plant extracts.
• 31 full-text articles from 10 countries were included.

Main Results:

• Plant extracts positively influenced osteoblastic proliferation, accelerating bone callus formation and fracture repair.
• Flavonoids were the most frequently reported secondary metabolites (32.26%).
• Methodological quality was often compromised by underreporting of essential criteria for in vivo animal studies.

Conclusions:

• Plant extracts demonstrate potential for enhancing bone repair due to their antioxidant, regenerative, and anti-inflammatory properties.
• Incomplete characterization of animal models, treatments, and phytochemical profiles limits the determination of efficacy and safety.
• Further rigorous studies are required to validate the use of plant-derived products in bone repair.