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EFFECT OF ClSSUS
QUADRANGULAR/S IN
ACCELERATING HEALING
PROCESS OF
EXPERIMENTALLY FRACTURED
RADIUS-ULNA OF DOG:
Summary A study was
undertaken to evaluate
the effect of methanolic
extract of Cissus
quadrangularis
Linn (CQ) on the healing
process of
experimentally fractured
radius-ulna of dog. CQ
treated
animals revealed faster
initiation of healing
process than the control
animals on radiological
and histopathological
examinations. The
treated group also
revealed a decrease in
serum
calcium level to a
greater extent than the
control group. Healing
was almost complete on
21 st
day of fracture in the
treated animals and
remained incomplete in
the control animals. No
significant alteration
of serum calcium level
was observed on 21 st
day of fracture in both
the
groups.
Key words Cissus
quadrangularis fracture
healing
Cissus quadrangularis
Linn (Syn: Vitis
quadrangularis
Wall: Family: Vitaceae)
is an indigenous
medicinal plant of
India. The plant is
known as “Harsankar”
in Hindi and
“Asthisanghara” in
Sanskrit.
The use of this plant by
the common folk for
promoting
fracture healing process
is an old practice. The
plant contains a high
amount of Vitamin C,
carotine
A, anabolic steroidal
substance and calcium.’
A few
reports are also
available on the effect
of the plant
on fracture healing in
laboratory animals.2~s
In the
present investigation an
attempt was made to
study
the effect of CQ on
experimentally fractured
radiusulna
of dog by radiological,
histological and
biochemical
parameters pertaining to
serum calcium
level.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Preparation of extract:
Dried methanolic extract
of CQ was obtained from
500g of dried finely
powdered
stems using soxhlet
apparatus. The extract
was reconstituted with
distilled water (100
mg/ml),
filtered and used in the
present study.
Grouping of animals:
Eight healthy mongrel
dogs
of either sex weighing
3-5 kg were randomly
selected
into two groups - Aand
B, each consisting 4
animals.
Animals were
acclimatized in the
laboratory and kept
on standard condition in
separate cages. Under
general anaesthesia
using intraval sodium
(30
radius-ulna
mg/kg, i.v.), a closed
fracture of the right
forelimb of
each animal was produced
by bending either end of
the bone in hands.
Plaster of paris bandage
was
applied over the
fractured parts after
reduction.
Group B received CQ (50
mg/kg, s.c.) every
alternate
day and group A received
normal saline (0.5
ml/kg, S.C. to maintain
uniformity in volume)
served
as control. Health
status of the animals
was
monitored during
treatment period. At 11
th day of
fracture, radiological
examination of the
fractured
parts of the animals in
group A and B was
carried
out to evaluate the rate
of healing. For
estimation
of serum calcium level
(by O.C.P.C. method kit
from
Span Diagnostic Ltd.)
blood was collected from
the
saphenus vein. Two
animals from each group
were
sacrificed for
histopathological
examination. Fractured
parts were dissected out
leaving 4 mm normal
bone on each side and
preserved in 10%
formalin.
Bones were decalcified
in formic acid,
sectioned at
5 f_r and stained with
haematoxylin and eosin.
At 21st day of fracture,
rest of the animals in
group
A and B were subjected
to similar studies.
RESULTS
At 11th day of fracture:
Treated animals revealed
bony dissolution and
periosteal reaction at
the fractured
sites as evidenced by
radiograph whereas, in
the control group, bony
dissolution was
comparatively
less and periosteal
reaction was absent. The
level of serum calcium
is depicted in Table 1.
The
treated group revealed a
decrease in serum
calcium
level to a greater
extent.
Histopathologically,
treated
group exhibited
initiation of
osteogenesis which was
absent in the control
group.
At 21st day of fracture:
Radiograph of the
treated
group revealed almost
complete bridging of the
fractured
ends with extensive bony
deposition and
periosteal reaction
compared to that of
control group.
Serum calcium level
remained unchanged in
both
the groups.
Histopathologically, the
treated group
revealed replacement of
cartilaginous cells by
osteoblastic
cells and union of the
fractured gap at
several places with the
formation of new bony
trabeculae, whereas bony
trabeculae were absent
in the control group.
DISCUSSION
In the present
investigation, the
radiographic
evidence of early
periosteal reaction and
bony dissolution
in the treated group
indicates a faster
healing
process.6 The level of
serum calcium was
declined in both the
groups at 11 th day of
fracture.
However, the decline was
still higher in the
treated
group. A low level of
serum calcium in the
early
stages of fracture
healing was already
reported.7
Further, the calcium of
callus was stated to be
derived
from the serum calcium.8
The decrease in the
level of serum calcium
to a greater extent in
the
treated group may be due
to faster healing
process
with more mobilisation
of calcium in the
formation
of callus.
Histopathological
examination exhibited
faster initiation of
healing with increased
osteoblastic
activity at 11 th day of
tracture and presence of
bony
trabeculae at 21st day
of fracture in the
treated
group. An increase in
the osteoblastic
activity in CQ
treated animal during
fracture repair was also
reported by Udupa and
Prasad.2 They also
mentioned
about the probable
pathway of action of CQ
to be through the
anterior pituitary
followed by
adrenal, testes and
liver.g However, the
possible
involvement of the
thyroid gland also
cannot be ruled
out which probably
caused parafollicular or
"C" cells
to release more
calcitonin and thereby a
decrease
in serum calcium level
as observed in the
present
study since calcitonin
increases the
osteoblastic
activity.lO.
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