An experimental study to evaluate the antiosteoporotic effect of Panchatikta Ghrita in a steroid-induced osteoporosis rat model.

OBJECTIVE

The study was conducted to develop the glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIO) model in Sprague-Dawley weanling rats using different doses of methylprednisolone (MP) and evaluate the antiosteoporotic effect of a classical ayurvedic formulation, Panchatikta Ghrita (PG), in this model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Institutional Animal Ethics Committee approval was obtained. Development of model was done by subcutaneous injection of 2 doses of MP (14 and 28 mg/kg/week) for 4 weeks in 21-day old weanlings. Following confirmation of the dose of MP that induced osteoporosis, the antiosteoporotic effect of PG was tested in this model in comparison to a known antiosteoporotic agent, alendronate. Both alendronate (2.9 mg/kg/day) and PG (1.35 g/kg/day) were administered orally 2 weeks after MP - 14 mg/kg/week injection and continued for 4 weeks. Serum and urine calcium and inorganic phosphate were analyzed at weekly intervals. Animals were sacrificed after 6 weeks, and femur bones were processed to measure bone hardness and elasticity and for histological studies.

RESULTS

Rats treated with MP - 14 mg/kg/week showed optimum osteoporotic effect with no mortality as compared to MP - 28 mg/kg/week; hence, this dose of MP was used further for the efficacy study. Osteoporotic rats treated with PG 1.35 g/kg showed increase in serum calcium and inorganic phosphate levels, whereas urine calcium and phosphate levels were significantly reduced. A significant decrease in a number of osteoclasts, whereas an increase in bone hardness and elasticity was observed as compared to diseased group demonstrating antiosteoporotic effect of PG.

CONCLUSION

PG has an antiosteoporotic effect in GIO rat model.