Synergistic effect of total isoflavones of pueraria and vitamin D on prevention and treatment of osteoporosis* / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Total isoflavones of pueraria (TIP) possesses estradiol-like structures and has inhibition effect on bone loss or osteopenia in ovariectomized rats. However, studies have demonstrated that the prevention and treatment effect of TIP on osteoporosis in ovariectomized rats is poor, especially in single utilization. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the combination effect of TIP and vitamin D on the treatment of osteoporosis in ovariectomized rats. METHODS: Totally 81 female sprague-drawly (SD) rats of 3-month-old were randomly assigned into 9 groups. Exception those in the sham-surgery group, all rats were prepared for ovariectomized models. Vitamin D or low-, middle- and high-dose TIP or low-, middle- and high-dose TIP combined with vitamin D were intragastric administrated in the vitamin D, TIP or combination groups, respectively. There was no drug medication in the model and sham-surgery groups. The uterus coefficient was calculated at 3 months after medication. The serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, calcium, phosphonium, bone gla protein, estradiol levels, as well as bone mineral density of femur was determined. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Compared with the model group, the uterus coefficient and estradiol level was obviously increased in the middle- and high-dose TIP groups and all combination groups (P < 0.05); the ALP and bone gla protein levels significant decreased (P < 0.05); and the bone mineral density of central and distal femur were notably increased (P < 0.05); in particular, the result was more manifest in the high-dose combination group. TIP and vitamin D presented with synergism in uterus coefficient, estradiol, ALP, bone gla protein levels and bone mineral density of distal femur, but the effect was not significant in the calcium and phosphonium levels in the TIP and/or vitamin D groups. The findings demonstrated that Tip combined with vitamin D can induce synergism on prevention and cure of osteporosis in ovariectomized rat.