OSTEOGENIC POTENTIAL OF MORINGA OLEIFERA – A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF IN-VIVO STUDIES

Background: Alveolar bone defects are common in dentistry. Bone tissue repair involves a complex inflammatory process, regulated by osteoprogenitor cells from the periosteum and endosteum, which are vital for new bone matrix formation. Recently, plant extracts have gained attention as potential treatments for bone lesions. Moringa oleifera exhibits various medicinal properties, largely due to its flavonoid content, which supports osteoblastic proliferation. These compounds enhance osteogenic differentiation and aid in bone defect healing. This review aims to assess the effectiveness of Moringa oleifera in promoting bone regeneration in in-vivo models. Methodology: A comprehensive electronic literature search was conducted using Medline/PubMed database based on PICO analysis. From an initial pool of 40 papers, 6 in-vivo studies using Moringa oleifera-based biomaterials met the inclusion criteria. Results: After removing duplicates and irrelevant abstracts, 9 studies remained. Four were excluded for not meeting inclusion criteria. One additional paper was identified through hand searching, totaling 6 included studies. Animal models used were Cavia cobaya, rats, and rabbits. Moringa oleifera was applied in various forms: leaf extract combined with DFDBBX, beta-tricalcium phosphate, marine collagen, hydrogel, and PRF. Bone regeneration was primarily assessed using micro CT and histological analysis. Conclusion: Moringa oleifera promotes bone repair by enhancing osteogenesis, increasing calcification, and supporting bone callus formation and mineralization. These effects are likely due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.