title: Evaluation of the antiosteoporotic potential of Cimicifuga heracleifolia in female mice.
abstract: Cimicifugae rhizoma might be protective against osteoporosis. This study investigated the effects of Cimicifuga heracleifolia (CH), an Asian species of Cimicifugae rhizome, on bone loss in ovariectomized (OVX) mice. The C3H/HeN mice were divided into sham and OVX groups. The OVX mice were treated with vehicle, 17β-estradiol (E(2) ) or CH for 6 weeks. Serum calcium, phosphorus, E(2) concentration and serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity were measured. Tibiae and femora were analysed using microcomputed tomography. The biomechanical property and osteoclast surface level were measured. Treatment with CH (i.p., 50 mg/kg of body weight, every other day) prevented the OVX-induced increase in body weight but did not alter the uterus weight of the OVX mice. Serum ALP levels and osteoclast surface levels in the OVX mice were reduced by treatment with CH. The CH significantly preserved trabecular bone mass, bone volume, trabecular number, trabecular thickness, structure model index and bone mineral density of proximal tibia metaphysis or distal femur metaphysis. However, grip strength, mechanical property and cortical bone architecture did not differ among the experimental groups. The results indicate that the supply of CH can prevent OVX-induced bone loss in mice.
authors: College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 500-757, South Korea.
authors: Byung-Su
authors: BS
authors: Ahn
authors: Miyoung
authors: M
authors: Yang
authors: Hyosun
authors: H
authors: Jang
authors: Hae June
authors: HJ
authors: Lee
authors: Changjong
authors: C
authors: Moon
authors: Jong-Choon
authors: JC
authors: Kim
authors: Uhee
authors: U
authors: Jung
authors: Sung Kee
authors: SK
authors: Jo
authors: Jong-Sik
authors: JS
authors: Jang
authors: Sung-Ho
authors: SH
authors: Kim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects*; D001862:Bone Resorption / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000517:prevention & control; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects*; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D031885:Cimicifuga / Q000737:chemistry*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D010010:Osteoclasts / Q000187:drug effects; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010052:Ovariectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry; D011897:Random Allocation; D027343:Rhizome / Q000737:chemistry*; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects; D055114:X-Ray Microtomography
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D004958:Estradiol; D002118:Calcium