الفهرس 
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Abstract
Aim: This study aimed to compare the bone healing potential of Moringa Oleifera (MO) versus
Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) on glucocorticoids induced jawbone osteoporosis in Albino rats.
Methodology: Thirty-six Albino rats were randomly distributed into 3 equal groups (12 per group),
osteoporotic group, MSCs and MO treated groups. Four rats from each group were sacrificed after 2,
4 and 6 weeks from the treatment initiation, sacrifice times were the same for the untreated
osteoporotic group. After each sacrification, the dissected jawbone was prepared for histopathological
examination, histomorphometric analysis, Dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), Real Time Polymerase
Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) and western blot. Comparisons between the 3 groups were done using
ANOVA for normally distributed variables and Kruskal Wallis test for non-normally distributed
variables.
Results: The histopathological examination of the osteoporotic group showed progressive
deterioration of bone micro-architecture, wide bone marrow cavities, few bone cells and multiple
bone clefts. However, both MSCs and MO treated groups showed a gradual healing progress
regarding the trabecular micro-architecture, size of marrow cavities, size, shape and abundance of
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osteocytes and healing of bone clefts. The histomorphometric analysis revealed that the bone area
percent values decreased in the osteoporotic groups, while they increased in the MO group and
increased even more in the MSCs group especially after the 3rd sacrifice (p <0.001). The DEXA
analysis showed a significantly increased bone mineral density in the MSCs and MO treated groups
compared to the osteoporotic groups (p <0.001). The RT-PCR and Western Blotting analysis
showed a significant decrease in RANKL gene and protein expression in the MSCs and MO treated
groups compared to osteoporotic groups (p < 0.001). The RT-PCR analysis for the OPG gene
showed a significant increase in the OPG gene expression in MSCs and MO treated groups
compared to the osteoporotic groups (p value < 0.001). Concerning the DXA, RT-PCR and
Western Blotting, there was not a significant difference between the MSCs and MO treated groups
through all the experiment (p > 0.05).
Conclusion: Both used treatments, the MSCs and MO were effective in treating osteoporosis and
both were found to have comparable bone healing potentials.