In vitro and in vivo studies of the effect of a Chinese herb medicine on osteoclastic bone resorption.
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of a Chinese herb on osteoclastic bone resorption and osteoporosis.


METHODS
Osteoclasts were isolated and cultured for in vitro study of the effect of the Chinese herb Guizhou epimedium (Epimedium Leptorrhizum Stearn). The in vivo effect of this Chinese herb was also investigated in rats in whom osteoporosis was induced by ovariectomy; these results were then compared with the effects of estradiol in the same group of rats.


RESULTS
The in vitro study showed that the epimedium inhibited the osteoclastic resorption of bone. The in vivo investigation demonstrated that both the epimedium and estradiol were able to increase mineral content and promote bone formation.


CONCLUSIONS
The Chinese herb Guizhou epimedium is of potential use in the treatment of osteoporosis.
Yu
S
S
Department of Oral Pathology, School of Stomatology, Beijing Medical University (BMU), P. R. China.
Chen
K
K
Li
S
S
Zhang
K
K
D000818:Animals; D001862:Bone Resorption / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010010:Osteoclasts / Q000187:drug effects; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D005419:Flavonoids; D004958:Estradiol