Radiographic evidence of mandibular osteoporosis improvement in Wistar rats treated with Ginkgo biloba

Abstract

Evaluate the effects of the extract of Ginkgo biloba (EGb) on the rat mandibular glucocorticoid-induced-osteoporosis. 36 female rats were divided into six groups (n=6): control, osteoporosis, positive control and EGb1 (14 mg/kg/day), EGb2 (28 mg/kg/day), and EGb3 (56 mg/kg/day) treatment. Treatments were conducted for 30 days after osteoporosis induction. The animals were euthanized and their left mandibles were removed and radiographed to evaluate the cortical and the periodontal bone support. The control group was compared with the osteoporosis group (Student's t-test). The other groups were analyzed by ANOVA test followed by Tukey post-hoc test (p < 0.05). There was a significant reduction in periodontal bone support in the osteoporosis group. The positive control group showed a significant increase in the mesial periodontal bone support, as well as the EGb group treated with 28 and 56 mg/Kg, which showed a significant increase in the mesial and distal periodontal bone support. The mandibular cortical was not affected by osteoporosis; however, the group treated with EGb using 56 mg/Kg showed a significant increase in the thickness of the mandibular cortical. The EGb recovered the periodontal bone support and increased the mandibular cortical thickness. The EGb may be effective in the treatment of osteoporosis.