Abstract
BackgroundRhizoma drynariae, a traditional Chinese herb, is commonly used in treatment of bone healing in osteoporotic fractures. However, whether the Rhizoma drynariae total flavonoids (RDTF) can promote the absorption of calcium and enhance the bone formation is unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate the preventive effects of RDTF combined with calcium carbonate (CaCO3) on estrogen deficiency-induced bone loss.MethodsThree-month-old Sprague–Dawley rats were ovariectomized (OVX) and then treated with CaCO3, RDTF, and their admixtures for ten weeks, respectively. The bone trabecular microstructure, bone histopathological examination, and serum biomarkers of bone formation and resorption were determined in the rat femur tissue. The contents of osteoprotegerin (OPG), receptor activator of the NF-κB (RANK), and its ligand (RANKL) in marrow were analyzed by ELISA, and the protein expressions of Wnt3a, β-catenin, and phosphorylated β-catenin (p-β-catenin) were analyzed by Western blot. Statistical analysis was conducted by using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by LSD post hoc analysis or independent samples t test using the scientific statistic software SPSS version 20.0ResultsRDTF combined with CaCO3 could promote osteosis and ameliorate bone loss to improve the repair of cracked bone trabeculae of OVX rats. Furthermore, RDTF combined with CaCO3 also could prevent OVX-induced decrease in collagen fibers in the femoral tissue of ovariectomized rats and promote the regeneration of new bone or cartilage tissue, while CaCO3 supplementation promoted the increase in bone mineral content. Nevertheless, there was no difference in the expression of Wnt3a, β-catenin and p-β-catenin between osteopenic rats and RDTF treated rats, but RDTF combined with CaCO3 could activate the Wnt3a/β-catenin pathway.ConclusionsRDTF combined with CaCO3 could ameliorate estrogen deficiency-induced bone loss via the regulation of Wnt3a/β-catenin pathway.
Highlights
Osteoporosis (OP) is a systemic skeletal disease characterized by low bone mass and micro-architectural deterioration of the trabecular and envelop of cortical bone, which increase bone fragility and susceptibility [1].Hu et al Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research (2021) 16:702Estrogen deficiency in postmenopausal women results in excessive bone resorption without adequate new bone formation, followed by bone loss and osteoporosis [2]
Effect of Rhizoma drynariae total flavonoids (RDTF) and C aCO3 on the trabecular microstructure in OVX rats To investigate the effect of RDTF and Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) on the trabecular bone microstructure of OVX rats, CaCO3 (20 mg/kg/d), RDTF (50 mg/kg/d), and their mixed preparations were administered to each OVX rat every day beginning at 5th weeks after surgery
dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scans analysis of the distal femur trabecular bone showed that the bone microstructure of the OVX group deteriorated, as evaluated by decreasing in bone mineral density (BMD), bone mineral content (BMC), bone volume (BV)/tissue volume (TV), Tb.Th parameters and increasing in Tb.Sp parameters compared with the sham operation group (Table 1 and Figure S1)
Summary
Estrogen deficiency in postmenopausal women results in excessive bone resorption without adequate new bone formation, followed by bone loss and osteoporosis [2]. Among the women with low risk of fracture, optimizing calcium intake is the best way to prevent osteoporotic fracture in postmenopausal women [11]. Calcium supplementation may be an effective way to treat OP. Calcium supplementation alone has no effect on the prevention of OP and even aggravates the risk of fracture 8. Whether the Rhizoma drynariae total flavonoids (RDTF) can promote the absorption of calcium and enhance the bone formation is unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate the preventive effects of RDTF combined with calcium carbonate (CaCO3) on estrogen deficiency-induced bone loss
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