Potential Preventive Effect of Artemisinin in Ovariectomy-induced Osteoporosis in Rats

ABSTRACT

Osteoporosis is associated with inflammation and increased oxidative stress, artemisinin was documented to have anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects. In the present study we evaluated the potential prophylactic effects of artemisinin on ovariectomy induced osteoporosis in rats. Thirty two sprague-dawley female rats aged 3 months old were classified into 4 equal groups (8 rats each), 1^st group was left without ovariectomy, 2^nd group was subjected to ovariectomy operation and left without treatment for 3 months, 3^rd group was subjected to ovariectomy operation then started oral alendronate (1 mg/kg/d) next first day after the operation and continued for 3 months, 4^th group was subjected to ovariectomy operation and then started oral artemisinin (75mg/kg/d) next day after the operation and continued for 3 months. Serum samples were tested for tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and cross linked telopeptides of type I collagen (CTX-І). Rat femurs of each group were subjected to histopathological examination by haematoxyline and eosin (H&E) staining. Ovariectomized group showed increased serum level of both TNF-α and CTX-І. Alendronate treatment for 3 months reduced serum CTX-І, failed to decrease the increased serum level of TNF-α in ovariectomized rats and improved bone mineral density (BMD) as demonstrated by histopathological examination in comparison to control ovariectomized rat. Artemisinin treatment for 3 months reduced serum TNF-α, CTX-І and improved BMD as demonstrated by histopathological examination when compared to control ovariectomized rat. So that, artemisinin has a potential prophylactic effect against osteoporosis in ovariectomized rats which is comparable to that of alendronate effect.

Keywords: Ovariectomy, inflammation, osteoporosis, Artemisinin, Alendronate, TNF-α.