Histology and radiography studies of effects of Lepidium sativum seeds on bone healing in male albino rats

Abstract

Lepidium sativum (garden cress) is a folk medicine that exhibited several therapeutic applications including anti-asthma, antihypertension, and bone healing. This study aimed to investigate the effects of L. sativum seeds on healing of fractured bone in male albino rats (Rattus rattus albinus). Twenty male albino rats were randomly divided into four groups (each group contains 5 rats); Non-Broken Control (NBC), Broken Control Non-Treated (BCNT), Broken Treated with 1 g/kg of seed powder (BT1g), and Broken Treated with 5 g/kg of seeds powder (BT5g). Right tibial closed fractures were created in the rats using a three-point bending technique. Serum Ca2+ level and Alkaline phosphatase tests were examined in all groups. Digital radiography was applied for three times, at the beginning, after 3 weeks, and 6 weeks. Histopathological study was done for right limb tibia bones. Results showed that the highest level of ALP was in the BT5g group after 3 weeks. However, after 6 weeks ALP level was the lowest in the BT5g group followed by the BT1g group. Serum Ca2+ level was higher in BT5g group after 6 weeks as compared to same group after 3 weeks. The X-ray photography shows that in treatment groups a clear improvement in bone healing that was revealed by an obvious callus and to a large extent a blurred fracture line. We also observed that after 6 weeks, the healing and recovery of broken bones were almost completed in L. sativum treated groups, especially in the BT5g group. Histology data further confirm the distinctive features of bone healing after feeding of seeds powder. Overall, our data suggested that seed of L. sativum has potential to speed up the callus formation, fracture line repairing, and new bone regeneration. This study highlights the importance of folk herbs in healing of fractured bones.