title: Anti-osteoporotic activity of aqueous-methanol extract of Berberis aristata in ovariectomized rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Traditionally Berberis aristata is employed for its supposed properties in treatment of joint pain and also used in alleviating symptoms of menopause.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study is to evaluate the antiosteoporotic effect of Berberis aristata in ovariectomized (OVX) rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into sham and OVX groups. The OVX rats were further divided into four groups, which received standard estrogen (0.0563 mg/kg) and 100, 300, and 500 mg/kg aqueous-methanol extract of Berberis aristata, daily for 42 days. The uterine weight, bone loss, ash content, biomechanical, biochemical and histopathological observation were carried out for antiosteoporotic activity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The experimental animals treated with Berberis aristata aqueous-methanol extract showed dose dependent activity. The significant increase in uterine weight, femur BMD, ash content and lumbar hardness were observed. In addition, increased levels of calcium and phosphorus in serum and significant decreased in urine were observed as compared to control OVX group. The histopathological results also confirm the protective effect of extract.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present findings strongly suggest that Berberis aristata possess the potent antiosteoporosis activity in ovariectomized rats and substantiates the ethnic use in treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Hanagal Shri Kumareshawara College of Pharmacy, BVVS Campus, Bagalkot 587101, Karnataka, India. yogesh2hs@yahoo.co.in
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Yogesh
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Chandrashekhar
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Katti
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ganapaty
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Raghavendra
authors.forename: Girish K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Gowda
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Goplakhrishna
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D028142:Berberis; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects*; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010052:Ovariectomy; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D008517:Phytotherapy; D024301:Plant Bark; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018547:Plant Stems; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014599:Uterus / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D010758:Phosphorus; D002118:Calcium