Metabolomics profiling reveals Echinops latifolius Tausch improves the trabecular micro-architecture of ovariectomized rats mainly via intervening amino acids and glycerophospholipids metabolism

Abstract

Echinops latifolius Tausch (ELT) is traditional Mongolian medicine in China, and often used to against osteoporosis, strengthen tendons and bones, clear bones heat. To study efficacy of ELT on ovariectomized (OVX) rats and underly metabolic pathways related to trabecular micro-architecture changing of OVX. Three-month-old female Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=6) including normal group (without surgery), sham group (bilateral laparotomy), OVX group (bilateral ovariectomy), and ELT-treated groups (ELT-treated after bilateral ovariectomy). The effects of ELT on trabecular micro-architecture and biochemical markers of OVX rat were investigated by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry machine and Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. Untargeted metabolomics strategy was applied to discover the potential biomarkers and related metabolic pathways involving the progression of OVX-induced osteoporosis. The trabecular micro-architecture and biochemical markers of OVX rats were improved by ELT. We found 36 potential biomarkers and 21 related metabolic pathways were involved in progression of OVX-induced osteoporosis. Amino acids metabolism and glycerophospholipids metabolism were mainly intervened in ELT treatment on ovariectomized rats. The disordered amino acids and glycerophospholipids metabolism closely related to the imbalance between bone resorption and formation were reversed by administration of ELT, indicating that the influences of ELT on OVX rats' trabecular micro-architecture may possible be associated with intervening amino acids and glycerophospholipids metabolism. This approach may provide the metabolomic perspective to link metabolic alterations and anti-osteoporosis action of ELT, to further explain how ELT works in postmenopausal patients with bone loss.