title: The effects of Cordyceps sinensis phytoestrogen on estrogen deficiency-induced osteoporosis in ovariectomized rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Isoflavones are naturally occurring plant chemicals belonging to the "phytoestrogen" class. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of isoflavones obtained from Cordyceps sinensis (CSIF) on development of estrogen deficiency-induced osteoporosis in ovariectomized rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  After the rats were treated orally with CSIF, serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), tartarate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), serum osteocalcin (OC), homocysteine (HCY), C-terminal crosslinked telopeptides of collagen type I (CTX), estradiol and interferonγ (IFN-γ) level were examined. At the same time, the urine calcium, plasma calcium, plasma phosphorus and the mass of uterus, thymus and body were also examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The beneficial effects of CSIF on improvement of osteoporosis in rats were attributable mainly to decrease ALP activity, TRAP activity, CTX level and IFN-γ level. At the same time, CSIF also increase the OC and estradiol level in ovariectomized osteopenic rats. The histological examination clearly showed that dietary CSIF can prevent bone loss caused by estrogen deficiency.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The significant estrogenic activity of CSIF demonstrated that CSIF has significant estrogenic effects in OVX rats.
authors.forename: Da-wei
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zhen-lin
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Xi Jing Hospital, the Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, People's Republic of China. GuangyueZfmmu@yeah.net.
authors.forename: Guang-yue
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000135:Acid Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001688:Biological Products / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001851:Bone Diseases, Metabolic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000378:metabolism; D032661:Cordyceps / Q000737:chemistry*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D004967:Estrogens / Q000172:deficiency; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D007529:Isoflavones / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015675:Osteocalcin / Q000097:blood; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D010052:Ovariectomy; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000097:blood; D048789:Phytoestrogens / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014599:Uterus / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D001688:Biological Products; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D024042:Collagen Type I; D004967:Estrogens; D007529:Isoflavones; D048789:Phytoestrogens; D015675:Osteocalcin; D010758:Phosphorus; D004958:Estradiol; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D000135:Acid Phosphatase