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 17s-estradiol (E 2 , 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 E 2 (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
Highlights
EXPERIMENTALOsteoporosis is a systemic skeletal disease characterized by decreased bone mass and deteriorated bone tissue
These results show that the Bone mineral density (BMD) of the 4th lumber vertebrae and femurs were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced as a result of ovariectomy, when compared to the control group
Epimedium brevicornum Maxim. extract (EBME) treatment caused significant (p < 0.05) increase in BMDs of the 4th lumber vertebrae and femurs of OVX-induced rats compared with OVXinduced rats not treated with EBME
Summary
Osteoporosis is a systemic skeletal disease characterized by decreased bone mass and deteriorated bone tissue. Displays kidney-toning and antiosteoporosis effects, and is widely used herb in China for the treatment of nephrasthenia syndrome [10], osteoporosis, [11] and bone fracture [12]. The herb, Epimedium brevicornum Maxim., was collected in Nanning City, Guangxi Province, China, in October 2015. It was identified by Professor Lin He, and a voucher specimen Group 4 rats were the OVX group, given 60 mg EBME/kg/day. Groups 5 and 6 were OVX rats, but were given 120 and 240 mg EBME respectively /kg/day. Extract (EBME) as a possible anti-osteoporosis agent in ovariectomy (OVX) - induced osteoporosis in rats was carried out. Criterion for statistical significant was set at p < 0.05
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