| Objective To investigate the effect of Hugu capsule (CH), mainly made of several kinds of traditional Chinese medicine including radix polygonum multiflorum preparataon, herba epimedii, and prepared rehmannia root, on bone loss in osteoporotic rats induced by glucocorticoid. Methods Thirty 3-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups randomly: age-matched normal control group (Nrm), methylprednisolone group (Met), and Chinese medicine group (CH). The rats in Met group were given a subcutaneous injection of methylprednisolone (Met) with a dose of 5.0 mg/kg per day, 5 times per week. The rats in CH group were not only given the same treatment in Met group, but also given a gavage of Hugu capsule with a dose of 150 mg/kg per day. The experiment lasted for 12 weeks. BMD of the right femur and L5 vertebrae was tested. Histomorphometry was performed on the right tibia. Results BMD of the right femur and L5 vertebrae in Met group was signi?cantly lower than that in Nrm group. BMD of the right femur and L5 vertebrae in CH group was signi?cantly higher than that in Met group. Tb.N, %Tb.Ar, MS/BS, MAR, and BFRs in Met group were significantly lower than those in Nrm group. Tb.Sp and ES/BS in Met group were significantly higher than those in Nrm group. Tb.N, %Tb.Ar, MS/BS, MAR, and BFRs in CH group were significantly higher than those in Met group. Tb.Sp and ES/BS in CH group were significantly lower than those in Met group. Conclusion CH has a positive effect on improving BMD in rats with osteoporosis induced by glucocorticoid, promoting osteogenesis, reducing bone resorption, and suspending bone loss. It has a potent application on the prevention and treatment of secondary osteoporosis. |