title: Osteogenic potential of cissus qudrangularis assessed with osteopontin expression.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Fracture healing involves complex processes of cell and tissue proliferation and differentiation. Many factors are involved, including growth factors, inflammatory cytokines, antioxidants, bone breakdown (osteoclast) and bone building (osteoblast) cells, hormones, amino acids, and uncounted nutrients. We studied the osteogenic potential of Cissus quadrangularis (CQ), a plant that has been customarily used in the Indian subcontinent to hasten the process of healing in bone fractures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Total of 60 patients (age, 20-35 years) of mandible fracture was divided in two groups. Patients of group 1 were given capsules of CQ and fracture healing was assessed with osteopontin expression during treatment. Group 2 was control group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Clinical and radiological analysis in our study was suggestive of better healing of fractures in group 1. All the samples of group 1 examined for osteopontin expression using western blot analysis and flow cytometry showed significant levels of expression of osteopontin protein and CD4+ T cells expressing osteopontin, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that CQ accelerates fracture healing and also causes early remodeling of fracture callus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, King George's Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Nimisha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Vibha
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Pant
authors.forename: U S
authors.initials: US
authors.lastname: Pal
authors.forename: Laxman R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Malkunje
authors.forename: Gagan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mehta
keywords: Cissus quadrangularis; flow cytometry; osteopontin; western blot