Abstract
BackgroundPost-menopausal osteoporosis has long been treated and prevented by estrogen replacement therapy (ERT). Despite its effectiveness, ERT is associated with serious adverse effects. Labisia pumila var. alata (LP) is a herb with potential as an alternative agent to ERT due to its phytoestrogenic, antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects on bone. This study aimed to determine the effects of LP supplementation on bone biomechanical strength of postmenopausal osteoporosis rat model.MethodsNinety-six female Sprague–Dawley rats aged 4 to 5 months old were randomly divided into six groups; six rats in the baseline group (BL) and eighteen rats in each group of; Sham- operated (Sham), ovariectomised control (OVXC) and ovariectomised with daily oral gavages of Premarin at 64.5 μg/kg (ERT), LP at 20 mg/kg (LP20) and LP at 100 mg/kg (LP100) respectively. These groups were subdivided into three, six and nine weeks of treatment periods. Rats in BL group were euthanized before the start of the study, while other rats were euthanized after completion of their treatments. Femora were dissected out for biomechanical strength analysis using Instron Universal Model 5848 Micro Tester.ResultsOVXC group showed deterioration in the bone biomechanical strength with time. Both ERT and LP supplemented rats showed improvements in bone strength parameters such as maximum load, displacement, stiffness, stress, and Young Modulus. The most improved bone strength was seen in rats given LP at the dose of 100 mg/kg for nine weeks.ConclusionLP supplementation at 100 mg/kg was more effective than ERT in reversing ovariectomy-induced bone biomechanical changes.
Highlights
Post-menopausal osteoporosis has long been treated and prevented by estrogen replacement therapy (ERT)
Maximum load (Max load) There were gradual increments in the Max load parameter for the Sham- operated (Sham), ERT, LP at 20 mg/kg (LP20) and LP at 100 mg/kg (LP100) groups until they were significantly higher than the Baseline group at
Displacement There was no significant difference in the displacement value between the Sham and OVX groups
Summary
Post-menopausal osteoporosis has long been treated and prevented by estrogen replacement therapy (ERT). Osteoporosis is considered as a serious public health concern due to its increasing prevalence worldwide It is a skeletal disease characterized by low bone mass and microarchitectural deterioration with a consequent increase in bone fragility and susceptibility to fracture [1]. Activation of estrogen-receptor complex will stimulate osteoblast differentiation and simultaneously suppress osteoclast activity [9]. Estrogen deficiency will lead to the upregulation of cytokines such as interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-6, macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) [10]. These inflammatory cytokines will induce osteoclast differentiation and inhibit its apoptosis. Bone formation activity is unable to keep pace with bone resorption, resulting in bone loss and fracture risk
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