Effect of icariin on fracture healing in an ovariectomized rat model of osteoporosis

  • Authors:
    • Hong Cao
    • Ying Zhang
    • Wei Qian
    • Xiao‑Peng Guo
    • Chen Sun
    • Lei Zhang
    • Xin‑Hua Cheng
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: March 17, 2017     https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2017.4233
  • Pages: 2399-2404
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Abstract

Osteoporosis is frequently asymptomatic, presenting a significant clinical and economic burden, particularly following an osteoporosis-associated fracture. Icariin has been reported to inhibit osteoporosis in vitro, and the present study investigated whether icariin also promoted bone fracture healing in ovariectomized osteoporotic (OVX) rats in vivo. A total of 30 female rats were randomly divided into three groups (n=10 per group): i) Sham surgery; ii) OVX; and iii) OVX with icariin (OVX + ICA) groups. At 3 months after the ovariectomy, a unilateral cross‑tibia fracture was made at the proximal right tibia. Animals were then sacrificed after 5 weeks of oral treatment. X‑rays were taken at 1 week, 3 weeks and 5 weeks of treatment, and dual energy X‑ray absorptiometry was used to measure the bone mineral density (BMD). Changes to the osteocalcin (BGLAP), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), tartrate‑resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) and estradiol levels in blood were measured. Callus formation and bone union were observed, the BMD was significantly higher and the BGLAP, ALP and TRAP levels were reduced, but no significant increase was observed in the blood estradiol level in the OVX + ICA group compared with the OVX group. The present findings indicate that icariin has potential as a novel alternative therapeutic agent for fracture healing in postmenopausal osteoporosis.
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May-2017
Volume 13 Issue 5

Print ISSN: 1792-0981
Online ISSN:1792-1015

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Spandidos Publications style
Cao H, Zhang Y, Qian W, Guo XP, Sun C, Zhang L and Cheng XH: Effect of icariin on fracture healing in an ovariectomized rat model of osteoporosis. Exp Ther Med 13: 2399-2404, 2017.
APA
Cao, H., Zhang, Y., Qian, W., Guo, X., Sun, C., Zhang, L., & Cheng, X. (2017). Effect of icariin on fracture healing in an ovariectomized rat model of osteoporosis. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 13, 2399-2404. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2017.4233
MLA
Cao, H., Zhang, Y., Qian, W., Guo, X., Sun, C., Zhang, L., Cheng, X."Effect of icariin on fracture healing in an ovariectomized rat model of osteoporosis". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 13.5 (2017): 2399-2404.
Chicago
Cao, H., Zhang, Y., Qian, W., Guo, X., Sun, C., Zhang, L., Cheng, X."Effect of icariin on fracture healing in an ovariectomized rat model of osteoporosis". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 13, no. 5 (2017): 2399-2404. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2017.4233