Many natural medicines have been studied for their capacity and effects of anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and regenerative potential in periodontal tissues. Safflower seed has been traditionally used as a drug for treatment of bone fracture in oriental medicine.

The purpose of the present study was to compare the effects of safflower seed extract and bone substitute on bone formation and regeneration in artificial defects in mongrel dogs. The bony defects were made with round bur at mandible and tibia. Extracts of safflower seed and bovine bone were placed directly at each defect for experimental group, and the defect of control group was sutured without any other treatment. Experimental animals were sacrificed at 8 weeks. And then histopathologic reading and histomorphometric study was done.

There was not significant differences between control and experimental groups in osteoclastic activity and infiltration of inflammatory cells. However, new capillary proliferation, fibrosis and new bone formation were prominent in safflower seed extract group. The mandibular defects of safflower seed extract group were healed with dense connective and bony tissues, and endochondral bone formation was observed in tibial defect of safflower seed extract group only. New bone area of safflower seed extract group was more significantly increased than that of control and that of bone substitute group.

These results indicate that direct local application of safflower seed extracts on bony defects seems to reduces the early inflammatory response and to promotes the bone regeneration.