Abstract
A polyphenolic extract from melon (Cucumis melo L.), as a potential source of natural antioxidants, has been reported to have a positive effect on osteoblast activity. In this study, the protective effects of heat-treated melon extract (ECO-A) on bone strength, mineralization, and metabolism were examined in osteoporotic rat models. Osteoporosis was induced by ovariectomy (OVX) in female rats and then maintained for 8 weeks, along with the ingestion of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS, OVXP) or ECO-A (OVXE) for an additional 4 weeks. At a pre-determined timepoint, bone strengths, as well as bone mineral contents (BMC) and the density (BMD) of femurs and/or lumbar spines extracted from each animal, were measured by a mechanical test and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, respectively. Moreover, several biochemical markers for bone turnover were analyzed by respective colorimetric assay kits in addition to clinical analyses. The maximum load and stiffness of femurs from the OVXE group were found to be significantly higher than the other groups. Furthermore, the OVXE group showed significantly higher BMC, BMD, and bone volume than the OVX and OVXP groups, which were comparable to the non-OVX (sham) group. The levels of bone formation and resorption markers in the OVXE group were similar to the sham group, but significantly different from other groups. In conclusion, these results suggest that ECO-A can play potentially positive roles in the protection of bone loss in rats with OVX-induced osteoporosis.
Highlights
Osteoporosis or bone loss is the most common of all metabolic bone disorders in humans, representing a major public health problem [1,2]
We aimed to investigate the protective effects of heat-treated melon extract (ECO-A)
It was revealed that after 4 weeks of OVX, there was a significant difference in weight between the sham and other groups (p < 0.05), while no difference was observed among those groups (Figure 2a)
Summary
Osteoporosis or bone loss is the most common of all metabolic bone disorders in humans, representing a major public health problem [1,2]. While the declines in estrogen, generally following menopause, are well-known risk factors for osteoporosis in women, the effects of age-related testosterone decline in men on bone health are less well-known [6]. As side effects have been reported for therapeutic agents used in osteoporosis patients, some alternative methods for the prevention of osteoporosis have been actively studied using various extracts or compounds available from natural sources [10]. Among these many natural substances with osteoporosis-relieving effects, mixed formulations of red clover and pomegranate [11] and Artemisia annua extract [12] have been shown to prevent ovariectomy (OVX)-induced osteoporotic bone loss
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