Protective effect of steroidal saponins from rhizome of Anemarrhena asphodeloides on ovariectomy-induced bone loss in rats.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the protective effect of steroidal saponins from Anemarrhena asphodeloides (ATS) on ovariectomy (OVX)-induced bone loss.


METHODS
Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into sham and OVX groups. The OVX rats were treated with vehicle, nylestriol or steroidal saponins extract for 12 weeks. Serum calcium, phosphorus, estradiol (E(2)), osteocalcin concentration and serum alkaline phosphatase activity were measured. Bone density was assayed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The undecalcified longitudinal proximal tibial metaphysical (PTM) sections were cut and stained for histomorphometric analysis of the bone.


RESULTS
In OVX rats, alkaline phosphatase activities in serum were markedly increased and concentrations of osteocalcin were decreased by ATS treatment, which had no influence on the body weight. Meanwhile, atrophy of the uterus and descent of bone mineral density (BMD) was suppressed by treatment with ATS. In addition, ATS completely corrected the decreased the concentration of calcium and E(2) in serum observed in OVX rats. Histological results showed ATS prevented decreases in trabecular thickness and increases in trabecular separation of proximal tibia metaphysis (PTM) in OVX rats. However, it did not alter osteoclast number in OVX rats. Moreover, ATS (300 mg/kg) had a remarkable effect on promoting bone formation action in OVX rats. Nylestriol treatment decreased the bone formation rate and mineral apposition rate.


CONCLUSIONS
An adequate supply of steroidal saponins of Anemarrhena asphodeloides prevented OVX-induced bone loss in rats through the promotion of bone formation but not the inhibition of bone resorption.
Nian
Hua
H
Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
Qin
Lu-Ping
LP
Chen
Wan-Sheng
WS
Zhang
Qiao-Yan
QY
Zheng
Han-Chen
HC
Wang
Yin
Y
D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D031403:Anemarrhena / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects*; D001862:Bone Resorption / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D015675:Osteocalcin / Q000097:blood; D010010:Osteoclasts / Q000187:drug effects; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D010052:Ovariectomy; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D027343:Rhizome / Q000737:chemistry; D012503:Saponins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D012503:Saponins; D015675:Osteocalcin; D004958:Estradiol; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D002118:Calcium