Effects of Panax ginseng extract on osteoporosis in aged rats

Abstract

Recent research has confirmed that Panax ginseng (PG) has effect on cultured osteoblast of the mouse. However, the in? uence of PG on osteoporosis in animals is relatively unknown. In this study we aim to validate the usefulness of tibia quantification by correlating micro-computed tomographic (CT) images with histology analysis in the aged male rats. A total of thirty – old male WISTAR rats were used and divided into ten 8 weeks rats and ten 112 weeks aged rats with vehicle and ten 112 weeks aged rats with PG (300 mg/kg/day). Daily oral administration of PG lasted for 8weeks. Bone histomorphomeric parameters and the trabecular bone microarchitectural properties of tibia was determined by microCT scan. MicroCT analysis showed significantly lower bone mineral density (BMD) and trabecular bone number in the aged group. Ginseng prevented total BMD decrease in the tibia induced by natural aging, which was accompanied by a significant decrease in skeletal remodeling. Furthermore, the aged group with ginseng was found to have a significantly higher osteoblast. Osteocalcin concentrations were significantly lower in the 112 weeks old rats group and higher in the 112 weeks rats with PG group. Thus, further studies of the use of compounds from PG and more details of their mechanism of action for osteoporosis. The present study indicated that PG might be a potential alternative medicine for the prevention and treatment of natural aging-induced osteoporosis in human.