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Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine ›› 2006, Vol. 4 ›› Issue (6): 628-633.doi: 10.3736/jcim20060618

• Original Experimental Research • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Prevention of bone loss by aqueous extract of Epimedii sagittatum in an ovariectomized rat model of osteoporosis

Hua Nian1,Ling-ling Xu1,Ming-hua Ma2,Lu-ping Qin3,Han-chen Zheng3,Qiao-yan Zhang3   

  1. 1. Department of Pharmacy, Yueyang Hospital of Chinese Integrative Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200437, China
    2. Shanghai Xinxing Medicine Co. Ltd, Shanghai 200135, China
    3. Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
  • Online:2006-11-30 Published:2006-11-15
  • Supported by:
    This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(90209043)

Objective

To investigate the prevention effect of aqueous extract of Epimedii sagittatum (ESE) on ovariectomy-induced (OVX) bone loss in rats.

Methods

Rats were divided into sham-operated and OVX groups. The OVX rats were divided into four groups treated with distilled water, 17β-estradiol (1 mg/kg, ig) and ESE (0.5 and 1 g /kg, ig) for 11 weeks. Serum calcium, phosphorus, estradiol, bone gla protein concentrations and serum alkaline phosphatase activity were measured. Bone density was assayed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The undecalcified longitudinal proximal tibial metaphysical sections were cut and stained for the bone histomorphometric analysis.

Results

In OVX rats, alkaline phosphatase activity in serum was markedly increased by ESE treatment, which had no obvious influence on the body weight. Meanwhile, atrophy of uterus and descent of bone mineral density were suppressed by ESE treatment. In addition, ESE completely corrected the decreased concentrations of calcium and E2 in serum observed in OVX rats. Histological results also showed ESE prevented the increases in trabecular separation (Tb.Sp) in OVX rats whereas it did not alter trabecular thickness (Tb.Th) and trabecular number (Tb.N) in OVX rats. Moreover, ESE had remarkable effect on bone formation rate with bone volume as referent (BFR/BV) and bone formation rate with bone surface as referent (BFR/BS).

Conclusion

The findings assessed on the basis of biochemical test, bone mineral density and histomorphometric parameters show that aqueous extract of Epimedii sagittatum has a definite antiosteoporotic effect and can prevent the OVX-induced bone loss in rats.

Key words: Ovary, Osteoporosis, Bone density, Rats

CLC Number: 

  • R285.5

Figure 1

Changes in body weight in rats Rats were sham-operated (■), ovariectomized (●), and administered ESE (1 g/kg) (△) and 17β-estradiol (▲). The changes in ESE (0.5 g/kg) group were the same as ESE (1 g/kg) group, the curve of which was not shown. Each point represents the mean±SD (n=10). *P<0.05 and **P<0.01, vs ovariectomized group at corresponding times."

"

Group n Body weight (g) Uterine weight (mg) BMD (g/cm2)
Sham-operated 10 290±13** 836±22** 0.263±0.011*
OVX 10 358±14 140±6 0.248±0.009
OVX+17β-estradiol 10 302±18* 813±15** 0.264±0.011*
OVX+ESE (0.5 g/kg) 10 310±10* 224±9* 0.249±0.010
OVX+ESE (1 g/kg) 10 308±11* 230±9* 0.262±0.012*

"

Group n Calcium (mmol/L) Phosphorus (mmol/L) ALP (U/L) E2 (ng/L) BGP ( g/L)
Sham-operated 10 3.43±0.50* 2.32±0.02* 92.13±2.63* 25.1±2.1* 1.29±0.13
OVX 10 2.61±0.21 1.62±0.01 130.02±4.42 14.2±1.5 1.41±0.24
OVX+17β-estradiol 10 3.36±0.37* 2.19±0.02* 94.23±2.92* 21.2±2.0* 1.62±0.36
OVX+ESE (0.5 g/kg) 10 3.31±0.42* 1.67±0.03 112.45±3.00* 16.3±1.8 1.66±0.33
OVX+ESE (1 g/kg) 10 3.29±0.28* 1.65±0.02 113.11±3.51* 31.1±2.7* 1.73±0.21*

"

Group n %Tb.Ar Tb.Th (μm) Tb.N Tb.Sp (μm)
Sham-operated 10 23.97±2.94** 70.13±8.84* 3.44±0.34* 222.31±22.83**
OVX 10 7.32±1.09 56.57±1.42 1.29±0.19 1 345.50±127.59
OVX+17β-estradiol 10 13.57±2.27* 57.44±4.78 2.36±0.31* 372.54±32.13**
OVX+ESE (0.5 g/kg) 10 8.33±1.26 57.56±4.25 1.33±0.15 901.80±55.71
OVX+ESE (1 g/kg) 10 15.20±2.00* 60.95±0.57 1.54±0.23 825.23±45.56*

"

Group n %L.Pm MAR BFR/BS BFR/BV BFR/TV
Sham-operated 10 22.89±5.07 0.69±0.08 15.72±4.08* 141.73±54.06* 32.89±8.50
OVX 10 31.79±5.88 1.19±0.08* 37.43±4.49 402.59±44.86 29.68±6.76
OVX+17β-estradiol 10 24.09±3.73 0.76±0.13* 18.19±3.98 194.25±48.92* 26.60±8.82
OVX+ESE (0.5 g/kg) 10 21.56±3.34 0.92±0.10 55.23±3.35* 523.33±45.23* 26.32±7.23
OVX+ESE (1 g/kg) 10 22.99±2.47 0.88±0.23 51.78±4.75* 517.73±47.71* 26.49±4.62
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