The aim of the present study was to observe the curative effect of traditional Chinese cajan leaves, combined with administration of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), on osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) in rats and to investigate the underlying mechanisms. A total of 40 rat ONFH models were established through liquid nitrogen freezing and were subsequently divided into groups: A, control; B, treated with cajan leaf; C, treated with BMSCs and D, treated with cajan leaf combined with BMSCs. Samples were obtained 30 days following treatment, and immunohistochemical staining of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and image analysis were performed. Chondrocytes and vascular endothelial cells were stained as a result of immunohistochemical staining and group D exhibited markedly deeper staining, and a significantly larger number of stained cells, compared with group A. Thus, in the present study, cajan leaf combined with BMSCs was shown to promote VEGF expression and improve ONFH repair.
Keywords: cajan leaf; mesenchymal stem cell; osteonecrosis of the femoral head; treatment.