Evaluation of the antiosteoporotic potential of Tinospora cordifolia in female rats

• Published in: Maturitas Vol. 59; no. 4; pp. 329 - 338
• Main Authors: Kapur, P, Jarry, H, Wuttke, W, Pereira, B.M.J, Seidlova-Wuttke, D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 20.04.2008; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Bone Density - drug effects; Bone Density Conservation Agents - pharmacology; Bone mineral density; Disease Models, Animal; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Estradiol; Estradiol - pharmacology; Estrogens - pharmacology; Female; General pharmacology; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Internal Medicine; Medical sciences; Obstetrics and Gynecology; Osteocalcin - drug effects; Osteoporosis; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal - prevention & control; Osteoporosis. Osteomalacia. Paget disease; Ovariectomized; Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plant Stems; Puberal and climacteric disorders (male and female); Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Tinospora; Tinospora cordifolia; Uterus; Uterus - drug effects; Osteoporosis; Tinospora cordifolia; Bone mineral density; Uterus; Ovariectomized; Estradiol; Human; Antiosteoporotic; Ovariectomy; Rat; Pharmacognosy; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Rodentia; Estrogen; Menispermaceae; Medicinal plant; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Dicotyledones; Animal; Angiospermae; Female; Spermatophyta
• ISSN: 0378-5122; 1873-4111
• DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2008.03.006

Abstract The available courses of therapy to osteoporosis in menopausal women are limited by several side effects generated. A need therefore arises to explore herbal alternatives that are effective and safe. Objective Present animal studies were conducted to investigate the potential of Tinospora cordifolia (TC) ethanolic stem extract as an antiosteoporotic agent. Methods Three-month-old female Sprague–Dawley rats were either ovariectomized (ovx) or sham operated and treated with vehicle (benzyl benzoate:castor oil; 1:4), E2 (1 μg/day) or TC (10, 50, 100 mg/kg b.wt) subcutaneously for 4 weeks. At the end of experiment bone mineral density of tibiae was measured by quantitative computer tomography. Serum was analyzed for the activity of alkaline phosphatase and levels of osteocalcin, cross-laps and lipids. Uterus and mammary gland were processed for histological studies. Results Ovx rats treated with TC (10 mg/kg b.wt) showed an osteoprotective effect as the bone loss in tibiae was slower than ovx controls. Serum osteocalcin and cross-laps levels were significantly reduced. All the above effects of TC were much milder than those produced by E2 . Alkaline phosphatase activity was higher in TC treatment groups. Total cholesterol and LDL levels remained unaltered but HDL levels were significantly lowered with TC (50 mg/kg b.wt) treatment. Uterus and mammary gland showed no signs of proliferation after treatment with TC extract. Conclusion TC extract showed estrogen like effects in bone but not in reproductive organs like uterus and mammary gland. Thus, this study demonstrates that extract of T. cordifolia has the potential for being used as antiosteoporotic agent.