Repair of experimentally induced femoral chondral defect in a rabbit model using Lyophilized growth promoting factor extracted from horse blood platelets (L-GFequina)

•Lyophilized equine platelets derived growth factor (LGF) could repair chondoral defect.•LGF lowered the pro-inflammatory cytokines; TNF-α and IL-1β.•LGF increased the anabolic and angiogenic growth factors; PDGF and TGF-β1.•LGF elevated the expression of chondrogenic-related marker genes; Col I and Col II.•LGF decreased the immune-expression of NF-κB p65 and MMP2 proteins.•LGF improved the histopathological alterations in osteoarthritis.