title: Possible antiosteoporotic mechanism of Cicer arietinum extract in ovariectomized rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study aimed to throw the light on the anti-osteoprotic mechanism of Cicer arietinum extract (CAE) seeds against ovariectomized (OVX) rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy female rats were divided into two groups. The first group (14 rats/group) represented normal rats (Sham operated) while the second group (56 rats/group) underwent bilateral ovariectomy (OVX). After one week of recovery from ovariectomy surgery, the second group was randomly subdivided into 4 subgroups (14 rats/ each subgroup). The rats administered orally; distilled water (vehicle) (1st subgroup), Cicer arietinum extract (CAE) (500 or 1000 mg/kg body weight/day) (2nd and 3rd subgroups), alendronate (6.5 mg/kg mg/kg body weight) as a positive control one time/week (4(rh) subgroup), daily for 10 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The present study demonstrated that ovariectomy caused significant decrease in bone mineral; density (BMD) and content (BMC), Bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BALP), calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), parathyroid hormone (PTH) and calcitonin levels. Furthermore, ovariectomy induced significant elevation of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRAP 5b) and receptor activator of nuclear factor (NF-kappa β) ligand (RANKL) concentration. Conversely, osteoprotegerin (OPG) and OPG/RANKL ratio were decreased following ovariectomy. The present work suggests that CAE has antiosteoporotic action against ovariectomy effects and its activity may results from its phytochemical and/or phytoestrogen contents.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ongoing study speculates that the CAE exerts its action through regulation of RANK/RANKL/OPG system. As, CAE not only promotes osteoblast differentiation, but also up-regulates OPG and downregulates RANKL secretion in osteoblasts, subsequently prevents bone loss and osteoporosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Cairo University Egypt.
authors.forename: Sohair R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Fahmy
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Cairo University Egypt.
authors.forename: Amel M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Soliman
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Cairo University Egypt.
authors.forename: Amany A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Sayed
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Cairo University Egypt.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marzouk
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001862:Bone Resorption / Q000188:drug therapy; D002113:Calcification, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D029863:Cicer / Q000737:chemistry*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D000432:Methanol; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010052:Ovariectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D010936:Plant Extracts; D000432:Methanol
keywords: Cicer arietinum; bone remodeling regulators; bone resorption marker; osteoporosis; ovariectomy