Assessment of the Osteogenic and Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Maca in Calvarial Bony Defect (Animal Study)

The purpose of this animal study was to assess the local effect of using raw Maca extract as a natural graft material in bony defects as an enhancement for bone formation with minimal inflammatory effect, which has not been tested before, to our knowledge. Nine rabbits were used in the split-skull technique with a total number of 18 critical-sized calvarial defects. They were divided into 3 groups: 6 empty defects (negative control group A), 6 defects filled with beta-tricalcium phosphate bone graft particles (group B), and the remaining 6 defects filled with Maca powder (group C). Fourteen days postsurgery, bony specimens were obtained and prepared for histomorphometric evaluation. Regarding the results of the newly formed bone, the greatest mean values of the area percent of the newly formed mineralized bone tissue and unmineralized bone tissue, in addition to the surrounding soft tissue surrounding traces of graft, were recorded in group C (Maca), and the least finding was discovered in group A. Meanwhile, the greatest mean value regarding the graft traces was recorded in group B. Regarding the number of inflammatory cells, the greatest mean value of the number of inflammatory cells was noted in group B. Using Maca powder as a natural grafting material showed a potent and promising osteogenic potential in bony defects, as it enhances bone formation and mineralization with minimal local inflammatory reaction.