Objective To investigate the effect of notoginseng saponins on fracture healing and the expression of bone-forming protein-2 (BMP-2) in callus tissue of rats with mandible fracture.

Methods Male SD rats were randomly divided into mandibular fracture group, notoginseng total saponin low-dose group, and notoginseng total saponin high-dose group, with 28 rats in each group. Seven rats were sacrificed respectively at the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th weeks of administration in each group. The fracture healing of the mandible was detected, and callus bone density (BMD) was measured by X-rays. The pathological morphology of callus tissue was detected by HE staining. The expression of BMP-2 at mRNA and protein levels in callus tissue were detected by RT-qPCR and immunohistochemical staining.

Results Compared with the mandibular fracture group, in the low-dose and high-dose notoginseng saponin groups, the mandibular fracture healing rate was accelerated, BMD in callus tissue was increased (P ＜ 0.05), the number of mature bone tissue and osteoblasts in callus tissue was increased, and the levels of BMP-2 at mRNA and protein expression in callus tissue were increased (P ＜ 0.05). Compared with the low-dose notoginseng saponin group, the mandibular fracture healing rate was accelerated in the high-dose notoginseng saponin group, and BMD in callus tissue was increased (P ＜ 0.05), and the number of mature bone tissue and osteoblasts in callus tissue was increased, and the levels of BMP-2 at mRNA and protein expression in callus tissue were increased (P ＜ 0.05).

Conclusion Panax notoginseng saponins promotes bone healing in rats with mandibular fractures by promoting bone formation in callus tissue, and the mechanism may be related to promoting BMP-2 expression.