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Abstract

Preventive effects of two traditional Chinese medicines, Chia-wei-hsiao-yao-san and Kuei-lu-erh-hsien-chiao, on the bone loss induced by ovariectomy in Long-Evans rats were investigated. The rats were divided randomly into five groups. The first group was given a sham operation with administration of distilled water, whereas the second, third and fourth groups were ovariectomized with administration of distilled water, Kuei-lu-erh-hsien-chiao and Chia-wei-hsiao-yao-san, respectively. The rats of the fifth group were embedded by intraperitoneal with a silicon tube containing 17 β-estradiol (10% in cholesterol) at a dose of 10 μg/kg. Eight weeks later, the mean differences of spinal bone mineral density (BMD) in groups 1, 4 and 5 were significantly higher than that in group 2. The mean differences of plasma alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in groups 1 and 5 were significantly lower than those in group 2, but there were no significant differences between groups 1 and 5. In histologic analysis, the cross sections from lower third of the tibial shaft in group 3 showed more mucopolysaccharide accumulation than those in groups 4 and 5. The urinary N-telopeptide of type I collagen (NTx) levels did not differ significantly among groups 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Nevertheless, the mean differences of urinary deoxypyridinoline (Dpd) levels in group 5 were significantly higher than those in group 2. 17 β-estradiol and Chia-wei-hsiao-yao-san showed more profound effect than Kuei-lu-erh-hsien-chiao in the prevention of bone loss in the ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Although 17 β-estradiol exerted more profound effect, Chia-wei-hsiao-yao-san showed good compliance and safety for relief of climacteric symptoms for post-menopausal women in a previous study. Therefore, Chia-wei-hsiao-yao-san might be an alternative for preventing bone loss.

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