Osteoprotective effect of Phaseolus vulgaris L in ovariectomy-induced osteopenia in rats.

OBJECTIVE: Phytoestrogens and phytoestrogen-containing plants are currently being explored as potential candidates for the treatment of estrogen-related disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-osteoporotic effect of the phytoestrogen-rich plant Phaseolus vulgaris L, commonly known as French beans. METHODS: Adult Sprague-Dawley rats were either bilaterally ovariectomized (OVX) or sham operated. OVX and sham control groups were administered vehicle, whereas the other two OVX groups were given 0.15 mg/kg estradiol and 1 g/kg methanolic extract of P vulgaris L seeds (MPV) orally for 10 weeks (10 rats per group). At autopsy, blood, urine, bones, and uteri of the animals were collected. Serum was evaluated for estradiol, calcium (Ca), phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, tartarate resistant acid phosphatase, and urine for Ca. The bone density, ash density, mineral content, and mechanical strength of bones was evaluated. Scanning electron microscopic analysis of bones (tibia) was performed. Results were analyzed using analysis of variance and Tukey's multiple comparison test. RESULTS: Compared with the OVX control, MPV (1 g/kg PO) significantly decreased serum alkaline phosphatase and reduced serum tartarate resistant acid phosphatase and urinary Ca levels. It caused an increase in bone density, ash density, and bone mechanical strength and significantly increased bone Ca. Improvement in bone microarchitecture was indicated by image analysis of scanning electron microscopic photomicrographs. No increase in weight of atrophic uterus in OVX animals was observed with MPV treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with MPV prevented estrogen deficiency-induced osteopenia without affecting the uterine mass. The promising results of the study warrant further investigation of French beans as a potential candidate for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Methanolic extract of Cuminum cyminum inhibits ovariectomy-induced bone loss in rats.

Several animal and clinical studies have shown that phytoestrogens, plant-derived estrogenic compounds, can be useful in treating postmenopausal osteoporosis. Phytoestrogens and phytoestrogen-containing plants are currently under active investigation for their role in estrogen-related disorders. The present study deals with anti-osteoporotic evaluation of phytoestrogen-rich plant Cuminum cyminum, commonly known as cumin. Adult Sprague-Dawley rats were bilaterally ovariectomized (OVX) and randomly assigned to 3 groups (10 rats/group). Additional 10 animals were sham operated. OVX and sham control groups were orally administered with vehicle while the other two OVX groups were administered 0.15 mg/kg estradiol and 1 g/kg of methanolic extract of Cuminum cyminum fruits (MCC) in two divided doses for 10 weeks. At the end of the study blood, bones and uteri of the animals were collected. Serum was evaluated for calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase and tartarate resistant acid phosphatase. Bone density, ash density, mineral content and mechanical strength of bones were evaluated. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) analysis of bones (tibia) was performed. Results were analyzed using ANOVA and Tukeys multiple comparison test. MCC (1 g/kg, p.o.) significantly reduced urinary calcium excretion and significantly increased calcium content and mechanical strength of bones in comparison to OVX control. It showed greater bone and ash densities and improved microarchitecture of bones in SEM analysis. Unlike estradiol it did not affect body weight gain and weight of atrophic uterus in OVX animals. MCC prevented ovariectomy-induced bone loss in rats with no anabolic effect on atrophic uterus. The osteoprotective effect was comparable with estradiol.