ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of Trifolium pratense isoflavones (TPIF), the main active component of Trifolium pratense L., on ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis in rats. METHODS: A total of 60 six-month-old female rats were randomly assigned to a sham-operated group and five ovariectomized(OVX) groups, ie, OVX with vehicle(10 mL · kg-1 · d-1, ig), OVX with graded doses of TPIF(30, 60, and 90 mg · kg-1 · d-1, ig), and OVX with nilestriol(2.5 mg · kg-1 · week-1, ig). The animals were sacrificed after 12-week treatment. RESULTS: Compared to the OVX group, TPIF significantly inhibited the increase of body weight. In addition, TPIF administration significantly decreased serum levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), and increased serum level of estrogen. CONCLUSION: TPIF may be a potential alternative medicine for the prevention and treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Its mechanism may be related to increasing estrogen level, inhibiting bone resorption, and promoting bone formation.
