PLANT-DERIVED PHYTOCHEMICALS AS OSTEOCLASTOGENIC MODULATORS: MECHANISTIC PATHWAYS AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS IN ORTHODONTICS AND OSTEONECROSIS OF JAWS

Abstract

Osteoclasts are crucial elements of bone remodelling and orthodontic tooth movement, yet their therapeutic stimulation remains little explored by pharmaceuticals and plant-based phytochemicals. This review amalgamates the current mechanistic evidence on plant-derived phytochemicals that promote osteoclastogenesis through convergent molecular pathways. Four key signalling clusters were identified—hypoxia–VEGF, MAPK/NFATc1, cytokine-mediated, and vascular modulatory axes—linking phytochemicals such as 6-Shogaol, Salvia miltiorrhiza, Asperosaponin VI, Akebiasaponin D to controlled osteoclast activation. This integration also shows that these compounds can enhance bone resorption in a selective manner which is required for accelerated orthodontic tooth movement and treatment of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw. By combining these findings, this review introduces a novel framework of “phytochemical-induced osteoclastogenic modulation,” highlighting therapeutic possibilities and safety considerations for targeted bone remodeling.