Article Sidebar
Published:
Oct 4, 2017Keywords:
Article Details
Submission of a manuscript to this journal is a representation that the manuscript has not been published previously and is not under consideration for publication elsewhere.
All authors named in each manuscript would be required to sign a form (to be supplied by the Editor) so that they may retain their copyright in the article but to assign to us (the Publishers) and its licensees in perpetuity, in all forms, formats and media (whether known or created in the future) to (i) publish, reproduce, distribute, display and store the contribution, (ii) translate the contribution into other languages, create adaptations, reprints, include within collections and create summaries, extracts and/or abstracts of the contribution, (iii) create any other derivative works(s) based on the contribution, (iv) to exploit all subsidiary rights in the contribution, (v) the inclusion of electronic links from the contribution to third party material where-ever it may be located, and (vi) license any thrid party to do any or all of the above.
Main Article Content
Evaluation of Epimedium brevicornum Maxim extract for anti-osteoporosis activity in rats
Abstract
Purpose: To evaluate the therapeutic effect of Epimedium brevicornum Maxim. extract (EBME) on ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis in rats.
Methods: The rats were divided into six experimental groups, viz, control (group 1) and five ovariectomy-induced (OVX) groups. The OVX groups include OVX-inducing agent only group (group 2), OVX with 17ß-estradiol (E2, 25 μg/kg/day, group 3), OVX with 60 mg EBME/kg body weight/day (group 4), OVX with 120 mg EBME/kg body weight/day (group 5) and OVX with 240 mg EBME/kg body weight/day (group 6). The treatment started for the OVX groups with a single weekly dose of OVX inducing agent for 4 weeks, followed by oral daily dose of E2 (group 3) or EBME (groups 4, 5 and 6) for another 16 weeks. Bone mineral density (BMD) of the 4th lumber vertebrae (4LV) and right femur of each rat was estimated. BMD determination was preceded by the measurement of the length of the femur and identification of diaphysis (center). Trabecular microarchitecture was assessed via three representative 4LV. The other parameters measured in this study were serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), urinary calcium (U-Ca), urinary phosphorus (U-P), urinary creatinine (U-SCr) and osteocalcin (OC) levels.
Result: The results showed that the BMD decrease induced by OVX in 4LV and femur was significantly mitigated by high dose of EBME. EBME also protected the trabecular microarchitecture against OVXassociated deterioration, evidenced by decreased bone turnover marker levels in 4LV at high EBME dose. Trabecular number (Tb-N, 3.7 ± 0.2), trabecular thickness (Tb-Th, 0.082 ± 0.011), and trabecular spacing (Tb-Sp, 0.17 ± 0.01) of the highest dose EBME-treated OVX rats ’4LV were significantly (p < 0.05) different from the corresponding values of EBME-free OVX rats.
Conclusion: The results reveal that administration of high doses of EBME lasting for 16 weeks not only protected against OVX-induced osteoporosis in rats but was also without the risk of endometrial hyperplasia. Thus, the extract may be a better alternative to other agents in current use for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis in elderly women. However, its efficacy and safety require further investigations.
Keywords: Epimedium brevicornum Maxim., Postmenopausal osteoporosis, Ovariectomy, Bone mineral density
