Evaluation of toxicity and anti-osteoporosis effect in rats treated with the flavonoids of Psoraleae Fructus

Abstract

• Hepatotoxic bakuchiol, psoralen, isopsoralen has been removed from EtOH extract of FP. • Fructus Psoraleae flavonoids have anti-osteoporosis effect on zebrafish and OVX rats. • Fructus Psoraleae flavonoids alleviated uterus atrophy and promoted BMD in OVX rats. The dried fruits of Psoralea corylifolia Linn are called Psoraleae Fructus (FP), widely used in postmenopausal osteoporosis treatment. However, FP-induced hepatotoxicity has been reported, which might be caused by bakuchiol, psoralen and isopsoralen. In our study, bakuchiol, psoralen and isopsoralen were removed from the EtOH extract of FP by petroleum ether extraction, finally yielding the flavonoids of FP (FFP). The anti-osteoporosis efficacy of FFP was evaluated on both zebrafish and ovariectomized (OVX) rats. FFP mitigated the decline in mineralization induced by retinoic acid in zebrafish. A noteworthy decline in trabecular bone volume and sharply uterus atrophy was observed in OVX rats. FFP alleviated uterus atrophy and promoted bone strength in OVX rats. BMD, BV/TV, Tb.Th, Tb.N was increased, while Tb.Sp and the bone turnover marker PINP and CTX was decreased in FFP group. FFP promoted Runx2 expression, reduced the number of osteoclasts, and increased the ratio of OPG/RANKL in osteoblasts.