Comparative anti-osteoporotic properties of the leaves and roots of in postmenopausal rat model.

BACKGROUND

var. (), popularly known as Kacip Fatimah, is widely used to maintain female reproductive health, facilitate post-partum recovery and manage symptoms of menopause and osteoporosis in South-East Asia. This study aims to further evaluate the osteoprotective potential of in view of reports of its bone-protective properties in postmenopausal condition.

METHODS

Thirty female Sprague-Dawley rats were sorted into 5 groups (n = 6) namely: MPv (leaf treatment); MPr (root treatment); ERT (estrogen treatment); OVXC (untreated ovariectomized control) and Sham (untreated sham-operated control). All rats (except the Sham) were ovariectomized to induce a state of estrogen deficiency that simulates menopause. Two weeks after ovariectomy, the rats were treated for 8 weeks with oral gavages of estrogen and plant extracts. The ERT group received 64.5 μg/kg/day dose of estrogen while and groups received 20 mg/kg/day dose of leaf and root extracts respectively. At the end of treatment, left femora were excised from euthanized rats and investigated for changes in bone micro-architecture, mineral density, and biomechanical properties.

RESULTS

Bone volume fraction, degree of anisotropy and structure-model-index of bone were significantly improved ( < 0.05) in the MPv group compared to OVXC. Breaking force and maximum stress of bone were also significantly higher ( < 0.05) in the MPv group compared to the OVXC.

CONCLUSION

Treatment with leaf protected bone microarchitecture and density against osteoporosis-related changes in postmenopausal rats. Similar to estrogen, the protective effects of leaf translated into better-enhanced bone mechanical properties compared to the root treatment.