Osteogenic potential of a chalcone in a critical-size defect in rat calvaria bone

Abstract

Background: This study describes the bone formation stimulated by the application of a type of chalcone to critical-size defects in rat calvarial bone.

Material and methods: Sixty female Wistar rats were divided into 6 groups of 10 animals per group: control (no treatment), vehicle (vaseline) and the chalcone (1-phenyl-3-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-propen-1-one) suspended in vaseline at 10%. A critical-size defect of 5 mm was prepared using a trephine in the calvarial bone, after which the treatment was applied, in a single dose, according to the experimental group. The samples were evaluated macroscopically using ImageJ software, and histologically 30 and 45 days after surgery.

Results: At 30 days after surgery, there was significant bone formation (p < 0.05) in the groups treated with chalcone, compared with the other groups. Many active osteoblasts were observed adjacent to the borders of the newly formed bone tissue. 45 days after surgery in the chalcone group, the surgical defects showed complete bone closure.

Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that chalcone has significant potential to induce the formation of new bone.

Keywords: Chalcone; Critical-size; Osteogenesis.