| Objective To explore the effects of Xuduan on osteoporotic fracture healing and its related cytokines in rats. Methods Fifty female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups: conventional fracture group, osteoporotic fracture group, estrogen group (0.125 mg/kg) and Xuduan treatment groups (high dose group 20 g/kg and low dose group 10 g/kg), with 10 rats in each group. Osteoporotic fracture group, estrogen group and Xuduan treatment group were bilaterally ovariectomized for osteoporosis model preparation. After 3 months, the five groups were prepared for right middle femoral fracture model. Rats in the osteoporotic fracture treatment group were given Xuduan extractive solution and estrogen, respectively, via intragastric administration, whereas rats in the fracture group and osteoporotic fracture group were given equal volume of normal saline for 4 weeks via intragastric administration. Bone mineral density was measured using bone densitometer in rats. Bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP) were measured by chemical method. Tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), Interleukin-1 (IL-1) and Interleukin – 6 (IL-6) contents were measured by ELISA kits. HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes of periosteum in fractures. Results Compared to the conventional fracture group, three months after ovariectomy, rats in the osteoporosis group showed markedly decreased bone mineral density (P＜0.05), suggesting that rat models of osteoporosis were prepared successfully. Four weeks after fracture, callus tissue trabecular bone volume and density, bone mineral density, and levels of serum BALP in the osteoporotic fracture group were significantly lower than those of the conventional fracture group (P＜0.05). Inflammatory factors TNF-α, IL-1 and IL-6 were higher than those in the conventional fracture group, but Xuduan and estrogen reversed the change. Conclusion Xuduan can promote the healing of osteoporotic fracture in rats. Its effects may be related to lowering the levels of TNF-a, IL-1 and IL-6. |