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. 2014:2014:825181.
doi: 10.1155/2014/825181. Epub 2014 Aug 14.

Preventive effect of crocin on osteoporosis in an ovariectomized rat model

Peng-Chong Cao  1 , Wen-Xing Xiao  2 , Ya-Bo Yan  1 , Xiong Zhao  1 , Shuai Liu  1 , Jing Feng  1 , Wei Zhang  1 , Jun Wang  1 , Ya-Fei Feng  1 , Wei Lei  1
Affiliations

Preventive effect of crocin on osteoporosis in an ovariectomized rat model

Peng-Chong Cao et al. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2014.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effects of crocin on ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis in rats. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to a sham-operated group (sham) and five ovariectomy (OVX) subgroups, that is, OVX with vehicle (OVX), OVX with 17β-estradiol (E 2, 25 μg/kg/day), and OVX with graded crocin doses (5, 10, or 20 mg/kg/day). Daily oral administration of E 2 or crocin started 4 weeks after OVX and lasted for 16 weeks. Our results showed that crocin dose-dependently inhibited the BMD reduction of L4 vertebrae and femurs caused by OVX and prevented the deterioration of trabecular microarchitecture, which were accompanied by a significant decrease in skeletal remodeling as evidenced by the lower levels of bone turnover markers. Furthermore, crocin reversed the oxidative stress status in both serum and bone tissue. The present study indicates that the administration of crocin at higher doses over a 16-week period can prevent OVX-induced osteoporosis in rats without hyperplastic effects on the uterus, which may, at least partially, be attributed to crocin's antioxidative property. In brief, crocin is a natural alternative for postmenopausal osteoporosis treatment in elderly women.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Effects of crocin or E 2 on (a) body weight and (b) uterus index of OVX rats. Values are mean ± SD, n = 10. *P < 0.05 versus sham; # P < 0.05 versus OVX.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Effects of crocin or E 2 on BMD of (a) L4 vertebrae and (b) right femurs of OVX rats. Values are mean ± SD, n = 10. *P < 0.05 versus sham; # P < 0.05 versus OVX.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Effects of crocin or E 2 on bone biomechanical parameters containing (a) maximum load, (b) maximum stress, and (c) Yong's modulus in femurs of OVX rats. Values are mean ± SD, n = 10. *P < 0.05 versus sham; # P < 0.05 versus OVX.
Figure 4
Figure 4
3D reconstruction images of VOI in L4 vertebrae showed the effects of crocin or E 2 treatments on cancellous bone microarchitecture in OVX rats.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Effects of crocin or E 2 on morphometric parameters including (a) BV/TV, (b) Tb.N, (c) Tb.Th, (d) Conn.D, (e) Tb.Sp, and (f) SMI in L4 vertebrae of OVX rats. Values are mean ± SD, n = 3. *P < 0.05 versus sham; # P < 0.05 versus OVX.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Effects of crocin or E 2 on biochemical parameters including (a) S-Ca, (b) S-P, (c) U-Ca/Cr, (d) U-P/Cr, (e) ALP, and (f) OC in serum and urine of OVX rats. Values are mean ± SD, n = 10. *P < 0.05 versus sham; # P < 0.05 versus OVX.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Effects of crocin or E 2 on oxidative stress status including (a) MDA and (b) SOD in serum and (c) NOX4 and (d) MnSOD expression in bone tissue of OVX rats. Values are mean ± SD, n = 10. *P < 0.05 versus sham; # P < 0.05 versus OVX.
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