Ethanol extract of Psoralea corylifolia L. and its main constituent, bakuchiol, reduce bone loss in ovariectomised Sprague-Dawley rats.
The aim of the present study was to investigate whether ethanol extracts of Psoralea corylifolia L. (PCE) and its active component protect against bone loss in ovariectomised rats. We screened oestrogenic activities of the main extract fractions using in vitro assays and identified bakuchiol as the most active oestrogenic component by HPLC and LC/MS, and then demonstrated that bakuchiol had strong binding affinity for oestrogen receptor (ER) alpha. Seventy female Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to either a sham-operated group (n 10) or an ovariectomised group (n 60). The ovariectomised group was subdivided into six groups, each containing ten rats: vehicle group, two bakuchiol-treated groups (dose of 15 mg/kg per d or 30 mg/kg per d; ten rats for each group), two PCE-supplemented groups (0.25 % or 0.5 % extracts of diets; ten rats for each group) and a 17beta-oestradiol (E2)-treated group (20 microg/kg per d). We recorded weight and feed intake every week, and killed all animals after 6 weeks. Blood was collected, and the uterus, kidneys and livers were removed. Bakuchiol has a three-fold higher binding affinity for ERalpha than for ERbeta. Bakuchiol and PCE treatments had no uterotrophic activity even though they demonstrated oestrogenic activity in the in vitro assays. Bakuchiol and PCE treatments reduced postmenopausal bone loss by increasing alkaline phosphatase, Ca concentrations, serum E2 concentration and bone mineral density, and by decreasing the inorganic P level. The present study indicated that bakuchiol and PCE treatments could protect against bone loss.
Lim
Sun-Hye
SH
Food Function Research Group, Korea Food Research Institute, Gyeonggi-Do 463-746, South Korea.
Ha
Tae-Youl
TY
Kim
Sung-Ran
SR
Ahn
Jiyun
J
Park
Hyun Jin
HJ
Kim
Suna
S
D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis; D004958:Estradiol / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D023421:Models, Animal; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010052:Ovariectomy; D010636:Phenols / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011485:Protein Binding; D029907:Psoralea; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D012639:Seeds; D014599:Uterus / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects
D010636:Phenols; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D010758:Phosphorus; D004958:Estradiol; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; C012765:bakuchiol; D002118:Calcium