title: Effects of remifemin treatment on bone integrity and remodeling in rats with ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis.
abstract: This study aims to evaluate the effects of Remifemin (isopropanolic extract of Cimicifuga Racemosa) on postmenopausal osteoporosis. 120 female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to four groups: sham surgery with vehicle, ovariectomy with vehicle, ovariectomy with estradiol valerate, or ovariectomy with Remifemin. Daily oral administrations of the vehicle, estradiol valerate, or Remifemin began 2 weeks after surgery and lasted to 4, 8, or 12 weeks. Ten rats in each group were sacrificed at each timestep with assessment of bone mineral density, trabecular bone structure, and biomechanical parameters of the femur and lumbar vertebra. Bone turnover markers were evaluated 12 weeks after surgery. Both drugs prevented bone density loss in the distal end of the femur and preserved the trabecular bone structure in both the lumbar vertebra and distal end of the femur following ovariectomy. Both drugs protected bone stiffness at the tested regions and reduced bone reabsorption in ovariectomized rats. The preventive effects of Remifemin against bone-loss can rival those of estradiol valerate if treatment duration is adequately extended. In conclusion, Remifemin may demonstrate equivalent effects to estradiol valerate in terms of preventing postmenopausal osteoporosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Guangxia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Huijie
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Leng
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Jianwei
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Statistics Office, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Sainan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Stomatology, General Hospital of Armed Police, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Weiguang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Lihua
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Wenpei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects*; D016723:Bone Remodeling / Q000187:drug effects; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D031885:Cimicifuga; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D010052:Ovariectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011859:Radiography; D051381:Rats; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D010936:Plant Extracts; C073419:Remifemin