The Potential Effect of Medicinal Plants for Cartilage Regeneration

Abstract

Any trauma to a joint such as sports injury can lead to osteoarthritis especially injuries that include torn cartilage, dislocated joints and ligaments. In sports injury specifically, most of the ointments in the market are only applied after physical activity. Repair of the bone and cartilage continues to be a challenge. Autologous and allografts are the gold standard for the treatment of the bone and cartilage. They have an invasive, open surgical procedure that requires the tissue to be harvested from an alternative site within the patient. South Africa is rich in native flora that is currently tapped as medicine by traditional healers. However, little is known about the natural products of our native flora and their potential to serve as a remedy for sports injuries, fracture healing and osteoarthritis. The grand purpose of the project is to explore medicinal plants of South Africa as a potential source for bone and tissue engineering of articular cartilage.

Effects of 3% Mobe (Artocarpus lakoocha) leaf extract gel on the post-extraction socket: In-vivo study

“…7 In addition, flavonoids play a role in increasing bone cell viability and bone density. 34,35 Flavonoids also play a role in the proliferation and tissue remodeling phase by increasing vascularization so that there is maximal supply of oxygen and nutrients to the injured cell tissue. Thus, there is an increase in collagen synthesis, thereby accelerating the wound healing process.…”

The Use of Native Flora/Herbal Products in Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Infection: A Global Perspective Study

“…This could be a result of influence due to location and execution of study questionnaire. However, studies have observed that traditional medicine/herbal products are being practiced and used mostly by poor African black communities for their wellbeing [11,23].…”

An Overview of the Use of Medicinal Plants in Regenerative Dentistry

“…Berberine and Icariin promote odontoblastic and odontogenic differentiation, they are both responsible of the inhibition of alveolar bone osteoporosis and promote periodontal bone regeneration [43] [82] [95]- [102], Drynaria iisos increases bone cell viability [103] [104], Rhizoma drynariae enhances the proliferation of hmscs [2] [103] [104], Foeniculum vulgare promotes differentiation of hMSCs into osteoblasts [104], Ferula gummosa has antibacterial effects and induces proliferation of hMSCs into osteocytes [105], Resveratrol induces proliferation and differentiation of articular cartilage, enhances bone healing by its anti-inflammatory properties, responsible for the inhibition of boneloss and increases the blood supply [104] [106]- [111]. Fructus ligustri lucidi increases osteogenesis stimulating genes [112] [113].…”