Therapeutic Effect of Equisetum arvense L. on Bone and Scale Biomarkers in Female Rats with Induced Osteoporosis

Abstract

Equisetum arvense L. (common horsetail) has medicinal characteristics that have been known since ancient times and are used to cure a variety of ailments. The effect of E. arvense L. on rats with induced osteoporosis was investigated. Forty female rats were randomized in 5 equal groups (n=8). The first group was working as tricks (SHAM) (negative control), while the other 4 groups were operating with ovariectomized (OVX) and fed on basal diet deficient in calcium and were given orally prednisone acetate (4.5 ml/kg body weight/day twice a week) for two weeks as source of glucocorticoid, to induce osteoporotic models. Three weeks after ovarian removal, Group 2 kept as positive control (OVX) and the other three groups were fed on basal diet supplemented with 5, 10 and 15% of dried E. arvense L, respectively for 8 weeks. The results showed that rats fed on dried E. arvense L. at all tested levels had significant increase (P<0.05) in serum of calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), bone alkaline phosphates (b-ALP), free thyroxin (T4), calcitonin (CT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) while significant reduction (P<0.05) in parathyroid hormone (PTH) and malondialdehyde (MDA)was detected. In addition, significant increase (P<0.05) in bone mineral density (BMD), bone mineral content (BMC), Ca and P contents in Femur ash were recorded in cured groups as compared to the positive control group. Our findings exhibit that E. arvense L. had a potent anti-osteoporotic effect in ovariectomized rats due to enhanced bone building, delayed bone loss and normalization of hormones levels that regulate calcium metabolism. Thus E. arvense L. might represent as a natural therapy for the avoidance of osteoporosis in women at postmenopausal period.