Total flavonoid extract of Epimedium herb increases the peak bone mass of young rats involving enhanced activation of the AC10/cAMP/PKA/CREB pathway

Journal of Ethnopharmacology
Huirong XiKeming Chen

Abstract

Epimedium sagittatum brevicornum Maxim. is an important traditional Chinese herb that has long been used to promote bone fracture healing and treat osteoporosis. Achieving peak bone mass by adolescence has now been accepted to be fundamental for preventing osteoporosis in adulthood life. This study investigated the possibility of increasing peak bone mass in young rats using the total flavonoid extract of Epimedium herb (TFE). TFE was intragastrically administered to one-month-old Wistar rats at a low (100 mg/kg), middle (200 mg/kg) or high dose (400 mg/kg). Whole body bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry every two weeks. When BMD of any one of TFE groups was found to be significantly higher than that of the control, all rats were sacrificed, serum samples were collected for bone turnover biochemical assays, and femurs, tibiae and vertebrae were isolated and used in BMD, mechanical, micro-structural, histomorphometric and mechanistic studies. Administration of TFE at middle and high doses for two months significantly increased the whole body, femoral and vertebral BMDs, and improved the bone mechanical and micro-architectural properties. The serum turnover biochemical results and the enhan...Continue Reading

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