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Updated: Jun 13, 2026
Estrogen-Like Effect of Bazi Bushen Capsule in Ovariectomized Rats
Published on: April 7, 2023
Early Metabolic and Oxidative Effects of Hop Extract, Alendronate, and Their Combination Across Tissues in an
Edi Rođak1,2, Nika Srb1, Robert Grgac1,3
1Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine Osijek, University of Osijek, J. Huttlera 4, 31000 Osijek, Croatia.
Background/Objectives:
Postmenopausal osteoporosis is associated with systemic metabolic alterations related to estrogen deficiency. This exploratory study investigated the early metabolic, oxidative, and histomorphological effects of alendronate, a standardized hop extract, and their combination in ovariectomized (OV) rats.
Methods:
Female Wistar rats (n = 70) were randomly allocated to seven groups: six OV groups or a sham-operated control (n = 10 per group). Following a 30-day postoperative period for model development, animals received daily treatment for 2 weeks with vehicle (placebo), low- or high-dose alendronate (1 and 2 mg/kg, respectively), standardized hop extract (60 mg/kg), or both. Oxidative stress markers, liver and perigonadal adipose tissue histology, and tissue metabolism were assessed.
Results:
No evidence of adverse hepatic, renal, or systemic effects was observed. Oxidative damage markers remained largely unchanged, although ovariectomy was associated with reduced hepatic catalase activity, which was increased by high-dose alendronate. Treatment-related morphological changes in adipose tissue were observed. Serum triglyceride levels were unaffected, whereas total cholesterol was significantly increased in animals receiving hop extract. Hepatic triglyceride levels were influenced by alendronate treatment, modified by hop extract. MALDI-TOF MS suggested no OV-related alterations in amino acid, lipid, steroid, and redox-related metabolism in liver and adipose tissue. The subsequent treatments, especially in the high-dose alendronate group and hop-extract group, partially modified these metabolic signatures; however, these findings remain provisional pending MS/MS validation.
Conclusions:
Most outcomes were not significantly altered by OV. Alendronate and hop extract exert distinct short-term effects on selected metabolic and oxidative parameters in this exploratory model. Further studies are needed to investigate translational potential.
