title: Osteoprotective effect of extract from Achyranthes bidentata in ovariectomized rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A Chinese herbal drug, root of Achyranthes bidentata showed a potent inhibitory activity on bone resorption induced by parathyroid hormone (PTH) in a bone organ culture using neonatal mouse parietal bones. The present study is to clarify the fractions responsible for the activity and further explore the osteoprotective effect of the fraction in vivo.
  
  
  METHODS
  The hexane, ethyl acetate (EtOAc), n-butanol (n-BuOH) and water soluble fractions of methanol extract of the root of Achyranthes bidentata were prepared and screened for their anti-bone resorption activity using the bone organ culture system. The n-BuOH soluble fraction was further administered orally at doses of 25, 50 and 100mg/(kgday) to ovariectomized (OVX) rats. The analyses of the rat body weight, serum estradiol (E2), total cholesterol and triglyceride levels, uteri weight and measurement of bone mineral density (BMD) were conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The EtOAc and n-BuOH fractions showed the most potent inhibitory activity on PTH-induced bone resorption. Further research using OVX rat model revealed that the n-BuOH fraction significantly prevented BMD loss due to OVX operation. While, the uteri weight and serum estradiol (E2), total cholesterol and triglyceride levels displayed no differences compared with those of control group (OVX rats), suggesting the n-BuOH fraction should have no estrogen-like side effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results reveal that the n-BuOH soluble fraction of the root of Achyranthes bidentata is effective at preventing bone loss in OVX rats and has a great potential as an alternative tool for the treatment of osteoporosis.
authors: Key Lab of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China.
authors: Cui-Cui
authors: CC
authors: He
authors: Rong-Rong
authors: RR
authors: Hui
authors: Yasuhiro
authors: Y
authors: Tezuka
authors: Shigetoshi
authors: S
authors: Kadota
authors: Jian-Xin
authors: JX
authors: Li
mesh_terms: D029044:Achyranthes; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001862:Bone Resorption / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010052:Ovariectomy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018517:Plant Roots; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts