Experimental techniques for screening of antiosteoporotic activity in postmenopausal osteoporosis

Abstract

Postmenopausal osteoporosis, a silent epidemic, has become a major health hazard, afflicting about 50% of postmenopausal women worldwide and is thought to be a disease with one of the highest incidences in senile people. It is a chronic, progressive condition associated with micro-architectural deterioration of bone tissue that results in low bone mass, decreased bone strength that predisposes to an increased risk of fracture. Women are more likely to develop osteoporosis than men due to reduction in estrogen during menopause which leads to decline in bone formation and increase in bone resorption activity. Estrogen is able to suppress the production of proinflammatory cytokines like interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, IL-7 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α). This is why these cytokines are elevated in postmenopausal women. In this review article we have made an attempt to collate the various methods and parameters most frequently used for screening of antiosteoporotic activity in postmenopausal osteoporosis. Pertaining to ovariectomized animal model, this is the most appropriate model for studying the efficacy of different drugs to prevent bone loss in postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Effects of Osteo-F, a new herbal formula, on osteoporosis via up-regulation of Runx2 and Osterix

“…In addition to BMD, BMC is a one of the primary standards to analyze mechanical strength. 19 The recovery of bone parameters, BMD and BMC, is strongly associated with loss of bone. 20 In this study, OVX-induced osteoporotic mice showed decreases of femur BMC and BMD compared to Sham group.…”

Antioxidant enriched fraction fromPueraria tuberosaalleviates ovariectomized-induced osteoporosis in rats, and inhibits growth of breast and ovarian cancer cell linesin vitro

“…The parameters include calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), triglycerides (TG), and total cholesterol (TC). Hydroxyproline (HP), calcium, and phosphorus in urine were also determined as reported earlier [4,11].…”

“…Several drugs, such as estrogens, biphosphonates, and parathyroid hormone analogs are used for the inhibition and management of osteoporosis. They promote bone formation or decrease bone resorption or both [11]. However, these treatments comprise serious concerns related to their safety and efficacy.…”

Osteoblast Role in Rheumatic Diseases

“…On one hand, in postmenopausal osteoporosis the reduced bone mineral density is due to the increased bone resorbing activity of osteoclasts induced by estrogen deficiency. In fact, estrogens are involved in favoring osteoblast activity and inhibiting osteoclastogenesis by inducing OPG production and inhibiting several osteoclastogenesis factors, such as IL-1, IL-6, IL-7, and TNF-α [93,94]. On the other hand, an insufficient osteoblast activity is involved in senile osteoporosis [95].…”