The Role of Aqueous Extract as a Bone Protective Agent, a Histomorphometric Study.

Glucocorticoids are one of the causes of secondary osteoporosis. The aqueous extract of contains flavonoids that possess antioxidant effects. In this study, we determined the effects of aqueous leaf extract on structural, dynamic and static histomorphometric changes from osteoporotic bones of rats induced with glucocorticoids. Thirty-two Sprague-Dawley rats were divided equally into four groups-Sham control group given vehicles (intramuscular (IM) olive oil and oral normal saline); AC: Adrenalectomised (Adrx) control group given IM dexamethasone (DEX) (120 μg/kg/day) and vehicle (oral normal saline); AP: Adrx group administered IM DEX (120 μg/kg/day) and aqueous leaf extract (125 mg/kg/day) orally; and AG: Adrx group administered IM DEX (120 μg/kg/day) and oral glycyrrhizic acid (GCA) (120 mg/kg/day). Histomorphometric measurements showed that the bone volume, trabecular thickness, trabecular number, osteoid and osteoblast surfaces, double-labelled trabecular surface, mineralizing surface and bone formation rate of rats given aqueous leaf extract were significantly increased ( < 0.05), whereas the trabecular separation and osteoclast surface were significantly reduced ( < 0.05). This study suggests that aqueous leaf extract was able to prevent bone loss in prolonged glucocorticoid therapy. Thus, has the potential to be used as an alternative medicine against osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures in patients undergoing long-term glucocorticoid therapy.