ABSTRACT
The effects of Red Ginseng on osteopenia were investigated in ovariectomized rats. Eight-week-old female Wistar rats were used. Sham operating and ovariectomized control (OVX Cont) rats were given the vehicle. Korean Red Ginseng extract powder (0.1g/kg/day p. o.) was administered to another ovariectomized group (OVX RG). After 12 weeks, blood was drawn, and jejunum and tibia were removed. Histologial parameters in bone and intestinal villi were measured. Biochemical and endocrinological parameters were also measured. Although ovariectomy significantly increased body weight of rats, there was no significant difference between OVX Cont and OVX RG in body weight gain. Bone volume in OVX Cont was significantly lower than in sham operating rats. Administration of Red Ginseng significantly increased the bone volume of tibia in ovariectomized rats. Intestinal villous height in OVX Cont was significantly lower than in sham operating rats. There was a tendency towards increasing intestinal villous height in OVX RG. Administration of Red Ginseng significantly decreased the frequencies of abnormally shaped villi in ovariectomized rats. This experimental study showed that Red Ginseng was effective in inhibiting osteopenia in ovariectomized rats, and it appears that the effect on bone is related to that on intestinal villi.
ABSTRACT
The effects of Rikkunshi-to (Liu jun zi tang), Hochu-ekki-to (Bu zhong yi qi tang), and Hange-shashin-to (Ban xia xie xin tang) on morphological changes in the small intestinal mucosa of mice with age were observed. The results indicated that Rikkunshi-to and Hochu-ekki-to had a beneficial effect on intestinal mucosal changes in 36-weeks-old mice. In particular, the improvement of the absorptive area of the intestinal villi and microvilli depending on the concentration of medicine was found. Ninjin-yoei-to had a strong effect on aged mice of 50 and 70 weeks. The morphology and absorptive function were significantly improved.
