Effect of Medicago sativa compared To 17β-oestradiol on osteoporosis in ovariectomized mice

Abstract

Phytoestrogens, with a wide range of beneficial effects, prevent bone loss caused by oestrogen deficiency.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of Medicago sativa ethanol extract compared to 17β-oestradiol on osteoporosis in ovariectomized mice.

The study was carried out on female mice, divided into five groups: control mice (GI), Medicago sativa treated mice (0.75 g/kg BW/day) (GII), ovariectomized mice (GIII) and ovariectomized mice treated either with Medicago sativa (GIV) or with 17β-oestradiol (50 µg/Kg BW/day) (GV).

Our results showed that Medicago sativa or 17β-oestradiol treatments significantly attenuated perturbations of mineral levels, histological changes and oxidative stress in the femurs of ovariectomized mice.

Medicago sativa prevented bone loss induced by oestrogen deficiency, which could be attributed to its richness in kaempferol, syringic acid, naringenin and myrictin. Its effects were more beneficial or similar compared to 17β-oestradiol.

Keywords:

• Medicago sativa
• 17β-oestradiol
• osteoporosis
• ovariectomized mice
• oxidative stress in the femur

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest in the current study.

Additional information

Funding

The present work was supported by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research [UR/13 ES-73], Tunisia.