Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Evaluation of Epimedium brevicornum Maxim extract for anti-osteoporosis activity in rats

Jian-qing Gao¹, Su-xin Zhuang², Ying Wang³, Fu-xiao Cao⁴, Lei Chen¹, Yi-han Bao⁵, Yan Wei³

¹Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University; ²Department of Surgery, Chinese People's Liberation Army 118th Hospital, Wenzhou 325000, Zhejiang Province; ³Department of Medical Administration, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830054, Xinjiang Autonomous Region; ⁴ICU, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, Zhejiang Province; ⁵Department of Orthopedics, Laibin People's Hospital, Laibin 546100, Guangxi, Autonomous Region, China.

For correspondence:- Yan Wei Email: weiyan494@sina.com Tel:+8613899890323

Accepted: 6 August 2017 Published: 30 September 2017

Citation: Gao J, Zhuang S, Wang Y, Cao F, Chen L, Bao Y, et al. Evaluation of Epimedium brevicornum Maxim extract for anti-osteoporosis activity in rats. Trop J Pharm Res 2017; 16(9):2185-2190 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v16i9.20

© 2017 The authors.
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Abstract

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.

Results: 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 OVX-associated deterioration, evidenced by decreased bone turnover marker levels in 4LV at high EBME dose. Trabecular number (Tb-N, 3.7 ± 0.2), trabecular thickness (Tb-Th, 0.082 ± 0.011), and trabecular spacing (Tb-Sp, 0.17 ± 0.01) of the highest dose EBME-treated OVX rats ’4LV were significantly (p < 0.05) different from the corresponding values of EBME-free OVX rats.

Conclusion: The results reveal that administration of high doses of EBME lasting for 16 weeks not only protected against OVX-induced osteoporosis in rats but was also without the risk of endometrial hyperplasia. Thus, the extract may be a better alternative to other agents in current use for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis in elderly women. However, its efficacy and safety require further investigations.

Keywords: Epimedium brevicornum Maxim., Postmenopausal osteoporosis, Ovariectomy, Bone mineral density