Objective To investigate the protective effect of Herba Ecliptae on bone in retinoic acid-induced osteoporosis in rats. Methods A total of 60 adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control group, retinoic acid group (RA, 75mg/(kg?d)), Herba Ecliptae group (1.46, 0.73, 0.37g/(kg?d)) and Xianling Gubao group (1.5g/(kg?d)). All groups except the control group were orally administered with retinoic acid daily, continuous for 14 days. Modeling and administration of Herba Ecliptae and retinoic acid were done at the same time. The body weight of the animals was recorded weekly during the experimental period. After 6 weeks of dosing, calcium (S-Ca), phosphorus (S-P), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and osteocalcin (OCN) in serum, calcium (U-Ca), phosphorus (U-P) and deoxypyridinoline (DPD) in urine were measured. The bone mineral density (BMD) of the femur, 4th lumbar vertebra and tibia were assayed by Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry. The biomechanical properties of left femur were evaluated by three-point bending test and the trabecular microarchitecture of the right femur was measured by MicroCT. Results Administration Herba Ecliptae (1.46 g/(kg?d)) over a 6-week period significantly increased S-Ca level, decreased U-Ca, ALP, OCN and DPD levels in retinoic acid-induced osteoporotic rats (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, Herba Ecliptae (1.46 g/(kg?d)) significantly enhanced the BMD of right femur, 4th lumbar vertebra and tibia, by 10.7, 12.7 and 12.5%, and improved biomechanical properties of Maximum Load, Stiffness, Energy, Maximum Stress and Elastic Modulus by 13.98, 16.33, 40.18, 12.45 and 34.96% (P<0.05). Further, microCT evaluation also showed that Herba Ecliptae (1.46 g/(kg?d)) dramatically promoted trabecular microarchitecture (P <0.05).Conclusion These results suggested that Herba Ecliptae might be a potential medicine for retinoic acid-induced acute osteoporosis, considering that HE can enhance calcium absorption, increase osteoblastic activity and decrease bone turnover rate significantly. |