Osteocyte viability and bone density in cadmium chloride-induced osteoporosis ameliorated with Pilostigma thonningii stem bark-extracted D-3-O-methy-chiroinositol.

This study examined the ameliorative effect of D-3-O-methyl-chiroinositol, isolated from the stem bark of Piliostigma thonningii, on cadmium chloride-induced osteoporosis in male Wistar rats.

Thirty-six rats were assigned to three treatment groups (n = 12). Group A (2 mL distilled water), group B: (2.5 mg/kg b.w. CdCl₂) and group C: (2.5 mg/kg b.w. CdCl₂ and D-3-O-methyl-chiroinositol 2 mg/kg b.w.). Bone ash, calcium, phosphate, magnesium, and zinc content, as well as bone histological changes were determined at the end of months 1, 2, and 3.

There were significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) in the weight of the cervical, tibia, and femoral bones in all groups. The serum concentration of CdCl₂ was significantly different across the three groups with time. There was significant variation (P < 0.005) in the mean bone ash across groups. The concentration of OH-proline was significantly different (P < 0.0001) across groups. There were significant differences (P < 0.0001) in bone calcium, magnesium, zinc, and phosphorus concentrations. Histology revealed high levels of bone mineralisation in the CdCl₂-treated group, indicative of osteoporosis with hypertrophied osteocytes, while the femur of Wistar rats treated with D-3-O-methyl-chiroinositol showed bone trabeculae and viable osteocytes.

The study concluded that D-3-O-methyl-chiroinositol extract from Piliostigma thionningii stem bark ameliorated cadmium chloride-induced osteoporosis in male Wistar rats.