Therapeutic potentials of Marantodespumilum (Blume) Kuntze var. alataas antiresorptive agent in management of postmenopausal osteoporosis

Abstract

Due to increasing population of the elderly owing to higher life expectancy, osteoporosis in postmenopausal women has become a primary public health problem, posing huge economic and social burden today. Globally, approximately 200 million women are affected by this condition worldwide. One of every 3 women above 50 years was reported to experience fractures secondary to osteoporosis. Out of 8.9 million fractures (hip: 1.6 million, forearm: 1.7 million, clinical vertebral: 1.4 million) recorded annually, 61% occurred in women. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) using estrogen has been a valuable treatment option in the management of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Due to adverse side effects such as breast, colorectal and endometrial cancer, pulmonary embolism and stroke associated with long term use of estrogen, HRT is now reserved for treatment of pressing postmenopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness. Currently, a wide range of other agents such alendronate, raloxifene, calcitonin, vitamin D and calcium are recommended and used as alternatives. But, like HRT, these agents are also known to be associated with debilitating side effects that often hamper compliance to drug regimen. Thus, alternative and complimentary therapies for treating postmenopausal osteoporosis are being sorted for. Marantodes pumilum (Blume) Kuntze var alata, a phytoestrogen-rich herb, is one of the numerous natural agents that have been reported to be useful in protecting the bone against osteoporosis and is currently recommended for ma nagement of postmenopausa l symptoms. Researchers have reported protection of estrogen deficient animals against osteoporosis. In this article, the potentials of M. pumilum to be used as a safe alternative to estrogen in managing postmenopau sal osteoporosis wa s explored by reviewing releva nt published data on its osteoprotective and related pharmacological activities from reputable and reliable databases.

A Review on Therapeutic Effects of Labisia pumila on Female Reproductive Diseases

“…Postmenopausal women have become a primary public health problem. One of every three women above 50 years old was reported to experience fracture related to osteoporosis [ 35 ]. 8.9 million fractures (hip: 1.6 million, forearm: 1.7 million, and clinical vertebral: 1.4 million) were recorded annually, and 61% were from women [ 7 ].…”

“…This estrogen deficiency can be treated by estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) such as premerin. ERT has been proven to increase the lumbar spine and proximal femur [ 35 ]. It also can be given in combination with progesterone to increase the antiresorptive effects on bone cells affecting the osteoclast activity [ 35 ].…”

“…ERT has been proven to increase the lumbar spine and proximal femur [ 35 ]. It also can be given in combination with progesterone to increase the antiresorptive effects on bone cells affecting the osteoclast activity [ 35 ]. However, this ERT can lead to many side effects such as breast cancer and endomentrial cancer (Poh Su Wei [ 48 ]).…”