Osteoporosis
is a common metabolic bone-related disease characterized by low bone mass and micro
architectural deformation of bone tissue leading to increased bone fragility
and fractures. Primary type 1 osteoporosis or postmenopausal osteoporosis takes
place most commonly in women after menopause. Primary type 2 osteoporosis or
senile osteoporosis is seen in both females and males after age 75.
Bone
integrity abnormality and imbalance between bone formation by osteoblasts and
bone resorption by osteoclasts are known to result in metabolic bone diseases
such as osteoporosis.
Silymarin-rich
milk thistle extract (MTE) and its component silibinin enhanced alkaline
phosphatase activity of osteoblasts but reduced tartrate-resistant acid
phosphatase (TRAP) activity of osteoclasts.
The
osteoprotective effects of MTE were comparable to those of estrogenic isoflavone.
Low-dose combination of MTE and isoflavone had a pharmacological synergy that
may be useful for osteogenic activity.
This
study attempted to reveal the suppressive effects of MTE on bone loss. Female
mice were ovariectomized (OVX) as a model for postmenopausal osteopenia and
orally administered 10 mg/kg MTE or silibinin for 8 weeks. The
sham-operated mice served as estrogen controls. The treatment of ovariectomized
mice with nontoxic MTE and silibinin improved femoral bone mineral density. In
addition, the administration of MTE or silibinin inhibited femoral bone loss
induced by ovariectomy. Collectively, oral dosage of MTE containing silibinin
in the preclinical setting is effective in preventing estrogen
deficiency-induced bone loss.
1. Kim, J-L., Kim, Y.H., Kang, M.K., Gong, J.H., Han, S.J., & �Kang, Y.H. (2013). Antiosteoclastic Activity of Milk Thistle
Extract after Ovariectomy to Suppress Estrogen Deficiency-Induced Osteoporosis.
BioMed Research International, 2013, Article ID 919374, 11 pages.
Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/919374