title: Osteoprotective Effect of Echinocystic Acid, a Triterpone Component from Eclipta prostrata, in Ovariectomy-Induced Osteoporotic Rats.
abstract: Echinocystic acid (EA) is a natural triterpone enriched in various herbs and has been used for medicinal purposes in China. In the present study, we systematically examined the effects of EA on ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis in rats for the first time. Three-month-old female ovariectomy (OVX) Sprague-Dawley rats were used to evaluate the osteoprotective effect of EA. Results showed that administration of EA (5 or 15 mg/kg/day) for 12 weeks prevented lower levels of maximum stress and Young's modulus of femur induced by OVX. EA also recovered bone metabolic biomarkers levels in OVX rats, including osteocalcin, alkaline phosphatese, deoxypyridinoline, and urinary calcium and phosphorus. EA (5 and 15 mg/kg/day) could prevent the alteration of total bone mineral density in the femur caused by OVX. However, only high dose (15 mg/kg/day) of EA significantly improved trabecular architecture, as evidenced by higher levels of bone volume/tissue volume, trabecula number, and trabecula thickness, and lower levels of trabecula separation and structure model index compared with OVX rats. In addition, EA treatment decresed the serum levels of IL-1β and TNF-α in OVX rats. In conclusion, EA could prevent reduction of bone mass and strength and improve the cancellous bone structure and biochemical properties in OVX rats. Hence, EA may serve as a new candidate or a leading compound for anti-osteoporosis.
authors: Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
authors: Ya-Ting
authors: YT
authors: Deng
authors: Department of Orthopedics, Jinling Hospital, Clinical School of Nanjing, Second Military Medical University, Nanjing, China.
authors: Wen-Bo
authors: WB
authors: Kang
authors: Department of Orthopedics, Jinling Hospital, Clinical School of Nanjing, Second Military Medical University, Nanjing, China.
authors: Jian-Ning
authors: JN
authors: Zhao
authors: Department of Orthopedics, Jinling Hospital, Clinical School of Nanjing, Second Military Medical University, Nanjing, China.
authors: Gang
authors: G
authors: Liu
authors: Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
authors: Ming-Gao
authors: MG
authors: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D002118:Calcium / Q000652:urine; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D036601:Eclipta / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000097:blood; D009828:Oleanolic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D015675:Osteocalcin / Q000097:blood; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000652:urine; D010052:Ovariectomy; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000652:urine; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D015415:Biomarkers; C000594089:IL1B protein, rat; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D015675:Osteocalcin; D010758:Phosphorus; D009828:Oleanolic Acid; C036020:deoxypyridinoline; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; C022999:echinocystic acid; D002118:Calcium