Abstract
This study was performed to elucidate the effects of antler, red ginseng, safflower seed, ipriflavone and estrogen on ovariectomized rats. The rats were fed with Ca and P deficient diet for five weeks to induce osteoporosis. After this period, these animals were fed with normal feed and treated every other day with antler(600 mg/kg, p.o), red ginseng(200 mg/kg, p.o), safflower(200 mg/kg, p.o), ipriflavone(80 mg/kg, p.o) and estrogene(400$\mu\textrm{g}$/kg, i.m) for 5 weeks. During the treatment, the rats were examined for serum concentrations of estradiol, calcitonin, Ca, p and alkaline phosphatase(ALP) activities. The results are summarized as follows 1. The levels of serum 17 $\beta$-estradiol after five weeks of treatment were showed 39.6$\pm$3.0 pg/ml by antler, 33.2$\pm$2.5pg/ml by red ginseng, 34.9$\pm$2.4pg/ml by safflower, 28.1$\pm$3.1 pg/ml by ipriflavone and 40.6$\pm$3.0pg/ml by estrogen-treated group. They were lower than 50.8$\pm$3.1pg/ml of normal control group which had not received ovariectomy. They, however, were significantly higher than 26.8$\pm$1.8pg/ml of ovariectomized non-treatment group(p<0.05). 2. The levels of serum calcitonin after five weeks of treatment were showed 0.60$\pm$0.02 ng/ml by antler, 0.55$\pm$0.04ng/ml by red ginseng, 0.59$\pm$0.02ng/ml by safflower, 0.56$\pm$0.04ng/ml by ipriflavone and 0.62$\pm$0.02ng/ml by estrogen-treated group. They were lower than 0.67$\pm$0.03pg/ml of normal control group. However, they were significantly higher than 0.45$\pm$0.05ng/ml of ovariectomized non-treatment group(p<0.05). 3. The levels of serum Ca of the rats after five weeks of treatment with antler, red ginseng, safflower, ipriflavone and estrogen were 23.51$\pm$2.19$\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$, 25.22$\pm$3.44$\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$, 23.20$\pm$0.02$\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$, 24.76$\pm$3.57$\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$, 23.07$\pm$3.66$\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$, respectively. They were a bit higher than 21.43$\pm$2.22$\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$ of normal control group. And non-treatment group showed 26.12$\pm$0.29$\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$ which was significantly higher than that of control group(P<0.05). 4. The serum P concentraions after five weeks of treatment were showed 12.11$\pm$2.14$\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$ by antler, 13.18$\pm$1.64u91m4 by red ginseng, 12.67 $\pm$2.31$\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$ by safflower, 12.38$\pm$2.07$\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$ by ipriflavone, 11.86$\pm$1.93$\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$ by estrogen-treated group. They were a bit higher than 11.29$\pm$1.23$\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$ of normal control group. And non-treatment group showed 13.42$\pm$1.87$\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$ which was higher than that of control group but not significant. 5. The levels of serum ALP after five weeks of treatment were showed 164.8$\pm$3.8IU/ml by antler, 277.7$\pm$4.8IU/ml by red ginseng, 288.5$\pm$4.5IU/ml by safflower, 214.7$\pm$5.7IU/ml by ipriflavone and 159.4$\pm$5.4IU/ml by estrogen-treated group. They were significantly higher than 144.1$\pm$3.5IU/ml of normal control group(p<0.05). However, they were significantly lower than 336.9 $\pm$12.7IU/ml of ovariectomized non-treatment group(p<0.05). Antler and safflower elevated serum estradiol and calcitonin, and decreased serum ALP significantly. Therefore they were thought to have therapeutic effect on osteoposis by making inhibitory effect on osteoclasts rather than activating osteoblasts.