| Objective To investigate the effects of Schisandra chinensis extract on oxidative stress in osteoporotic rats via BMP-Smads signaling pathway. Methods Sixty female SD rats were selected for the study and randomly divided into sham-operation group, model group, Schisandra chinensis extract low, medium and high dose group, and alendronate tablet group. HE staining was used to observe the histopathological changes in the femur of rats in each group; X-rays were used to detect the bone density and osteocalcin level of rats in each group; ELISA was used to detect the serological related indexes of rats in each group; colorimetric assay was used to detect the oxidative stress related indexes of rats in each group; WB and PCR were used to observe the expression of proteins and mRNAs related to the BMP-Smads signaling pathway. Results Fructus schisandrae chinensis extract can effectively improve the bone trabecular structure, bone alignment order and other tissue changes; compared with the sham-operated group, rats in the model group, Fructus schisandrae chinensis extract high-dose group, and alendronate group had a lower BMD, osteocalcin, serum BMP-7, CTX-Ⅰ, CAT, SOD levels, BMP-Smads signaling pathway-related proteins and mRNA expression, and lower TRACP, ROS, MDA levels were higher; compared with the model group, rats in the Schisandra chinensis extract high-dose group and alendronate group had higher expression of BMD, osteocalcin, serum BMP-7, CTX-Ⅰ, CAT, SOD levels, BMP-Smads signaling pathway-related proteins and mRNAs, and lower levels of TRACP, ROS, and MDA (P< 0.05). Conclusion Schisandra chinensis extract was able to significantly enhance the bone metabolism function in a rat model of osteoporosis, and also effectively enhanced bone density and regulated oxidative stress, thus counteracting various problems caused by osteoporosis, and its mechanism of action may be related to the regulation of the BMP-Smads pathway. |