Extract and fraction of Musa paradisiaca flower have osteogenic effect and prevent ovariectomy induced osteopenia

Osteoporosis is an asymptomatic bone disorder leading to altered bone microarchitecture, mineralization and strength. Musa paradisiaca has been reported to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in various diseases. Its impact on postmenopausal osteoporosis has not been investigated yet.

The intention of the current study was to evaluate the bone regeneration and osteoprotective potential of extract and fraction of M. paradisiaca flower in ovariectomized (Ovx) Sprague Dawley (SD) rats, a model of post-menopausal bone loss. The study also aims to identify osteogenic compounds from active fraction.

Ethanolic extract (MFE) and butanolic fraction (MFE-Bu) from flower of M. paradisiaca were prepared and their efficacy was tested in rat femur osteotomy model at different doses. Effective dose from both extract (250 mg/kg) and fraction (50 mg/kg) were taken for study in osteopenic bone loss model. PTH was taken as reference standard (20 µg/kg/twice a week). Bones were harvested at autopsy for dynamic and static histomorphometry. Serum was collected for ELISA. Pure compounds were isolated from butanolic fraction (MFE-Bu), and were assessed for their osteogenic effect.

MFE and MFE-Bu were observed for their potential in bone healing and prevention of bone loss. Both MFE and MFE-Bu promoted new bone regeneration at injury site as assessed by microCT and calcein dye labeling studies. These also led to restoration of bone microarchitecture deteriorated as a result of osteopenia and improved bone biomechanical properties. Extract as well as the fraction exhibited dual bone anabolic and anti-resorptive properties where they elevated serum procollagen type I N-terminal propeptide (P1NP), a bone formation marker and suppressed serum C-telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX-1), a bone resorption marker. As many as four osteogenic compounds were isolated from MFE-Bu. Oleracein-E was found to be the most potent osteogenic agent based on osteoblast differentiation, mineralization assays, qPCR and protein expression studies.

Our studies demonstrates that ethanolic extract from the flower of M. paradisiaca and its butanolic fraction exhibit dual osteogenic and anti-resorptive potential, and have an advantage over PTH which though promotes bone formation but is also bone catabolic in nature.