Antiosteoporotic effects of benzyl benzoate glucosides from Curculigo orchioides in ovariectomized rats.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the antiosteoporotic effects of benzyl benzoate glucosides from Curculigo orchioides (COBG) in ovariectomized (OVX) rats.

METHODS

A total of 70 female Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to sham-operated and OVX model groups. The OVX rats were further divided into six subgroups treated by gavage with vehicle, 1 mg/kg of nylestriol, 6, 18 and 54 mg/kg of COBG and 3.0 g/kg of ethanol extract of Curculigo orchioides respectively for 12 weeks. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The sections of tibia were prepared for histomorphometric analysis. The biomarkers in serum and urine were determined using reagent kits.

RESULTS

Ovariectomy induced the bone loss and microarchitectural deterioration of bone tissue with the activities of increased serum alkaline phosphatase and loss of calcium through the excretion in urine, and decreased levels of antioxidant in serum (P<0.05, P<0.01). Administration of 6, 18 and 54 mg/kg of COBG significantly increased the BMD, improved the microarchitecture of bone tissue, prevented the depletion of antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase, inhibited the increase of malondialdehyde in serum and reduced the excretion of urine calcium in OVX rats (P<0.05, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

COBG could prevent the bone loss through improving the antioxidant status, which offers a potential new therapeutic drug for postmenopausal osteoporosis.