Abstract
Purpose: To investigate the effect of ginsenoside Rg3 on bone loss, bone mineral density (BMD) and osteoclast number in glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP) rats, and the mechanism of action involved.Methods: Sixty female Wistar rats were assigned to control, model group, ginsenoside Rg3, and alendronate sodium groups, comprised of 15 rats per group. The osteoporosis rat model was established via intramuscular injection of dexamethasone. Changes in bone mineral content (BMC), BMD trabecular thickness and area, osteoblasts and osteoclasts in femurs and lumbar vertebrae were measured after 3 months of treatment.Results: There were significantly higher BMC and BMD levels in ginsenoside Rg3 group than in alendronate rats (p < 0.05). The thickness and trabecular area in femur and lumbar vertebrae in the ginsenoside Rg3 group were significantly higher than those in the model group (p < 0.05), but were comparable with those in the alendronate sodium group (p > 0.05). There were marked increases in osteoblasts, and marked decreases in osteoclasts in the ginsenoside Rg3 group, alendronate sodium and control rats, relative to model rats (p < 0.05).Conclusion: Ginsenoside Rg3 arrests bone loss, and enhances bone density, trabecular thickness and area, bone microstructure, osteoblast activity and population of osteoclasts number in glucocorticoidinduced osteoporotic rats. This provides a new research direction for the clinical treatment ofosteoporosis.
 Keywords: Ginseng soap, Rg3, Glucocorticoid, Osteoporosis, Bone loss, Bone mineral density, Osteoclast population
Highlights
Glucocorticoids (GCs) are often used in severe infections or autoimmune diseases and respiratory diseases
Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP) is a is frequently seen in clinics
Osteoporosis is a systemic skeletal disease that is associated with fracture due to reduction in bone mass and degeneration of bone microstructure, resulting in increased bone brittleness
Summary
Glucocorticoids (GCs) are often used in severe infections or autoimmune diseases and respiratory diseases. A rat model of GIOP was established via super-physiological dose of dexamethasone. Using alendronate sodium as positive control, the effects of ginsenosides Rg3 on bone loss, bone mineral density and osteoclast number in GIOP rats were investigated, with a view to providing experimental basis for clinical prevention and treatment of the disease. The model, the ginsenoside Rg3, and the alendronate groups were intramuscularly injected with dexamethasone twice a week, at a dose of 0.2 mg/100 g body weight, for a total of 12 weeks. Following anesthesia (diethyl ether), BMD and BMC of lumber spine and left femur (LSLF) of the rats were measured using Lunar DPX-MD Bone mineral density instrument and Small Animal Cascade Standard Analysis software. Trop J Pharm Res, April 2020; 19(4):812 values of p < 0.05 were taken as indicative of significant differences
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