Abstract
This study aims to evaluate the effects of Remifemin (isopropanolic extract of Cimicifuga Racemosa) on postmenopausal osteoporosis. 120 female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to four groups: sham surgery with vehicle, ovariectomy with vehicle, ovariectomy with estradiol valerate, or ovariectomy with Remifemin. Daily oral administrations of the vehicle, estradiol valerate, or Remifemin began 2 weeks after surgery and lasted to 4, 8, or 12 weeks. Ten rats in each group were sacrificed at each timestep with assessment of bone mineral density, trabecular bone structure, and biomechanical parameters of the femur and lumbar vertebra. Bone turnover markers were evaluated 12 weeks after surgery. Both drugs prevented bone density loss in the distal end of the femur and preserved the trabecular bone structure in both the lumbar vertebra and distal end of the femur following ovariectomy. Both drugs protected bone stiffness at the tested regions and reduced bone reabsorption in ovariectomized rats. The preventive effects of Remifemin against bone-loss can rival those of estradiol valerate if treatment duration is adequately extended. In conclusion, Remifemin may demonstrate equivalent effects to estradiol valerate in terms of preventing postmenopausal osteoporosis.
Highlights
Osteoporosis, which places a considerable economic burden on both families and societies, is a global medical issue with an increasing woldwide incidence [1,2]
Estradiol valerate treatment resulted in a higher BV/TV, trabecular number (TbN) value and lower trabecular spacing (TbSp) value while Remifemin treatment resulted in a higher BV/TV and trabecular thickness (TbTh) value, without changes in the TbN and TbSp value, when compared with OVX+NS group
Our findings indicate that the bone stiffness of the lumbar vertebrae and femoral distal end decreased along with bone mineral density (BMD), resulting in the deterioration of the trabecular bone structure in ovariectomized rats
Summary
Osteoporosis, which places a considerable economic burden on both families and societies, is a global medical issue with an increasing woldwide incidence [1,2]. Women are more prone to bone-loss than men following postmenopausal estrogen deficiency; PMO is the most common type of osteoporosis [1]. It is commonly believed that estrogen deficiency promotes bone absorption over formation. Treatment for PMO includes both the promotion of bone formation and the inhibition of bone reabsorption. Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), which have evolved through multiple generations for the prevention and/or treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis, have been associated with increased venous thromboembolic events and hot flushes[16]. Finding a safe and effective drug for the treatment of PMO is clinically important and has become an important area of research. We evaluated the effects of Remifemin treatment more comprehensively on bone integrity and remodeling in rats with developing osteoporosis due to ovariectomy
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