title: Comparative effects of er-xian decoction, epimedium herbs, and icariin with estrogen on bone and reproductive tissue in ovariectomized rats.
abstract: Er-Xian Decoction (EXD), Epimedium herbs (herbs of Epimedium brevicornum Maxim, EBH), and icariin (ICA) have been proven to have estrogen-like and antiosteoporotic activity and are used for the treatment of osteoporosis, menopausal syndrome, and age-associated diseases. The present study found that EXD, EBH, and ICA treatments, emulating estrogen, significantly contributed to bone density and architecture in OVX rats and that EXD is similar to estrogen and exerts a concomitant effect on bone formation and bone resorption at the tissue level, while EBH and ICA produced bone-protective effects mainly by inhibiting bone resorption. Nevertheless, EXD, EBH, and ICA treatments manifested a fewer adverse effects on the uterus, mammary gland, and vagina compared to estrogen administrations. Among the EXD, EBH, and ICA, EXD was found to have superior efficacy and safety profile.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, No. 325 Guohe Road, Shanghai 200433, China ; Department of Pharmaceutics, No. 455 Hospital of CPLA, Shanghai 200052, China.
authors.forename: Liming
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.forename: Yin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yiping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nie
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Qiaoyan
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Luping
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Qin