Extract and fraction from Ulmus wallichiana Planchon promote peak bone achievement and have a nonestrogenic osteoprotective effect.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to determine the skeletal effects of total ethanolic extract (TEE) and its butanolic fraction (BF) from the stem-bark of Ulmus wallichiana, which is rich in C-glycosylated flavonoids, in growing rats (for peak bone [PB] achievement) and in ovariectomized (OVx) rats (for menopausal bone loss).


METHODS
TEE (750 mg kg(-1) d(-1)) and BF (50 mg kg(-1) d(-1)) were given orally for 10 weeks to weaning female Sprague-Dawley rats and for 12 weeks to adult OVx rats of the same strain, respectively. In studies with OVx rats, sham operated + vehicle, OVx + 17beta-estradiol, and OVx + vehicle groups served as various controls. Bone mineral density (BMD), biomechanical strength, bone histology, formations of osteoprogenitor cells, osteoid formation, and bone turnover/resorption markers were studied. Bioactive marker compounds in TEE and BF were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. One-way analysis of variance was used to test significance of effects.


RESULTS
In growing rats, both TEE and BF increased BMD, bone strength, and bone formation rate, suggesting higher PB achievement. OVx rats treated with either TEE or BF exhibited increased BMD at various anatomical positions and improved bone strength and trabecular architecture compared with the OVx + vehicle group. Serum osteocalcin and urinary type 1 collagen degradation product levels in OVx rats treated with either TEE or BF were significantly lower than those of the OVx + vehicle group. Neither TEE nor BF exhibited uterine estrogenicity. Analysis of marker compounds revealed significant enrichment of two bioactive markers in BF over TEE.


CONCLUSIONS
Derived from U wallichiana, BF at much a lower dose than TEE was effective in PB achievement and prevention of OVx-induced bone loss.
Sharan
Kunal
K
Division of Endocrinology, Central Drug Research Institute (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research), Lucknow, India.
Siddiqui
Jawed A
JA
Swarnkar
Gaurav
G
Tyagi
Abdul Malik
AM
Kumar
Avinash
A
Rawat
Preeti
P
Kumar
Manmeet
M
Nagar
Geet K
GK
Arya
Kamal R
KR
Manickavasagam
Lakshmi
L
Jain
Girish K
GK
Maurya
Rakesh
R
Chattopadhyay
Naibedya
N
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005260:Female; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006027:Glycosides / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000187:drug effects; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010052:Ovariectomy; D008517:Phytotherapy; D024301:Plant Bark / Q000737:chemistry; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D034403:Ulmus / Q000737:chemistry*; D016474:Weight-Bearing
D015415:Biomarkers; D005419:Flavonoids; D006027:Glycosides; D028321:Plant Preparations