Preventive effect of Abelmoschus manihot (L.) Medik. on bone loss in the ovariectomised rats

Because the biggest culprit in pathogenesis of osteoporosis is oestrogen deficiency, hormone replacement therapy remained the mainstay for prevention. However most of postmenopausal women are more inclined to use natural alternative. We thus investigated the ability of Abelmoschus manihot, a herbal medicine to prevent bone loss in ovariectomised rats. Female Wistar rats were sham operated (SH: 8) or ovariectomised (OVX: 24). On day 0, OVX rats were randomly assigned to groups as follows: eight received 10% Abelmoschus manihot leaves in their diet, eight were given 15% Abelmoschus manihot leaves and eight were untreated (OVX). Compounds were mixed with a soy protein-free diet and given orally for 3 months. At necropsy, bone mineral density (BMD) in the femur and in its metaphyseal zone was lower in OVX than SH (p<0.05). This osteopenia was prevented by consumption of the highest dose of Abelmoschus manihot leaves. Bone mineral content (BMC) in the total femur and its metaphyseal and diaphyseal subregions was improved, as well (p<0.05). This could be explained by a trend towards decreased bone resorption. The lowest dose did not elicit any significant effect. In conclusion, Abelmoschus manihot consumption, at the dose of 15% in the diet, provided bone-sparing effects by improving both BMD and BMC.