Evaluation of <i>Epimedium brevicornum</i> Maxim extract for anti-osteoporosis activity in rats

作者：Jianqing Gao, Su-xin Zhuang, Ying Wang, Fu-xiao Cao, Lei Chen, Yi-han Bao, Wei Yan · 发表于：Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research · 年份：2017 · DOI：10.4314/tjpr.v16i9.20 · 被引用次数：2 · 研究领域：Medicinal Plant Pharmacodynamics Research、Bone Metabolism and Diseases、Cancer, Lipids, and Metabolism

Purpose: To evaluate the therapeutic effect of Epimedium brevicornum Maxim. extract (EBME) on ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis in rats.Methods: The rats were divided into six experimental groups, viz, control (group 1) and five ovariectomy-induced (OVX) groups. The OVX groups include OVX-inducing agent only group (group 2), OVX with 17ß-estradiol (E2, 25 μg/kg/day, group 3), OVX with 60 mg EBME/kg body weight/day (group 4), OVX with 120 mg EBME/kg body weight/day (group 5) and OVX with 240 mg EBME/kg body weight/day (group 6). The treatment started for the OVX groups with a single weekly dose of OVX inducing agent for 4 weeks, followed by oral daily dose of E2 (group 3) or EBME (groups 4, 5 and 6) for another 16 weeks. Bone mineral density (BMD) of the 4th lumber vertebrae (4LV) and right femur of each rat was estimated. BMD determination was preceded by the measurement of the length of the femur and identification of diaphysis (center). Trabecular microarchitecture was assessed via three representative 4LV. The other parameters measured in this study were serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), urinary calcium (U-Ca), urinary phosphorus (U-P), urinary creatinine (U-SCr) and osteocalcin (OC) levels.Result: The results showed that the BMD decrease induced by OVX in 4LV and femur was significantly mitigated by high dose of EBME. EBME also protected the trabecular microarchitecture against OVXassociated deterioration, evidenced by decreased bone turnover marker levels in 4LV at high E...