• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.89-94
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• 2002

Effect of Gamisamul-tang(GS) on body weight, uterine weight, splenial weight, serum and estrogen receptor-α (ER-α) in kidney were investigated in ovariectomized(OVX) rats. Female Sprague -Dawley rats with a body weight of 220 g were undergone ovariectomy or sham operation. The ovariectomy caused significant decrease in serum levels of HDL-cholesterol and in uterine weight compared to those of sham-operated animals. while caused significant increase in serum levels of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, body weight and in splenial weight. In contrast, administration of OVX rats with the GS significantly elevated serum levels of HDL-cholesterol and uterine weight, but significantly depressed serum levels of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, body weight and in splenial weight. ER-α localized in the kidney vessel endothelial cells and its expression was increased by ovariectomy and decreased by administration of OVX rats with the GS. Our results suggest that a possible protective effect of as against hyperlipidemia in postmenopausal cardiovascular disease and as increase the estrogen-estrogen receptor romp/ex in the kidney vessel endothelial cells.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.528-534
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• 2001

Much attention has been given to the role of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) seed in preventing and treating osteroporosis recently. Although numerous studies were done on effects of safflower oil, no attention was given to the role of dietary fiber of safflower seeds. This study was aimed at investigating physiological significance of defatted safflower seed as a source of dietary fiber. Sprague Dawley female rats were assigned one of 5 groups: ovariectomized control (Ovx-control) group and ovariectomized rats 15% (Ovx-ss15) and 30% defatted safflower seed (Ovx-SS30), sham-operated (Sham) group and a normal group. Cholesterol was supplemented to all diets at 0.5% except the normal diet. Ovariectomized rats were pair-fed isocalorically to the Sham group. Ovariectomy caused heavier body weight, but feeding 30% safflower seed brought back to the level of Sham group. Activities of disaccharidases of jejunal mucosa were significantly lowered in Ovx-control group compared to those of Sham, and supplementation of safflower seed tended to increase the activities. Fecal weight of Ovx-SS15 and Ovx-SS30 were almost twice as those of Ovx-control Sham. Propionic acid and butyric acid concentrations per g of feces of Ovx-SS15 and daily excretion of these fatty acids were significantly increased as compared to those of Sham and Ovx-control. In concentration defatted safflower seed supplementation significantly increased fecal bulk and short chain fatty acid production in large intestine of rats.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.539-543
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• 2014

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Soy isoflavones are structurally similar to estrogen and bind to estrogen receptors, suggesting that they exhibit estrogenic activities; therefore, they are referred to as phytoestrogens. Fermentation may affect the bioavailability of isoflavones altering soy isoflavone glycosides in the form of aglycones. Thus, this study investigated the effects of fermented soybeans by Rhizopus oligosporus on bone metabolism in both young rats as a pilot test and in ovariectomized (ovx) old rats as a model of menopause. MATERIALS/METHODS: In the pilot test, a total of 24 seven-week-old female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were fed one of three diets for a period of four weeks: casein, unfermented soybean product, or fermented soybean product by R. oligosporus. In the ovx rat model, 20-week-old SD rats weighing 260-290 g underwent either sham-operation (n = 10) or bilateral ovariectomy (n = 30) and were then fed the AIN-93M diet for one week. Thereafter, rats were fed sham-casein, ovx-casein, ovx-soybean, or ovx-fermented soybean diet for five weeks. After decapitation, femoral bones were isolated and preserved in 9% formalin for assessment of bone mineral density (BMD), bone mineral content (BMC), and bone-breaking strength (BBS). RESULTS: Ovx rats showed significantly increased weight gain and decreased uterine wet weight. Of particular interest, ovx rats fed fermented soybeans showed increased uterine wet weights compared to control rats. Fermented soybean diet caused a significant increase in plasma 17-${\beta}$ estradiol concentrations in young rats, and 17-${\beta}$ estradiol levels were enhanced in ovx rats to match those of sham-operated ones. Significantly lower femoral BMD and BMC were observed in ovx rats compared to sham-operated controls, whereas bone areas did not differ statistically among the groups. In addition, BBS tended to be increased in ovx rats fed soybeans and fermented soybeans. CONCLUSIONS: Supplementation of fermented soybeans could have preventive and therapeutic effects against osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.480-488
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• 2012

Polyphenols may be primarily responsible for the health benefits associated with tea consumption. However, the benefits of the tea polyphenols to bone health have not been studied well. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Oolong tea on bone mineral density and bone-related markers in ovariectomized rats. Sprague-Dawley female rats were randomly assigned to Sham-Control, Sham-Oolongtea, Ovx-Control, and Ovx-Oolongtea groups. Bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) were estimated by using PIXImus (GE Lunar Co, Wisconsin.) in the spine and femur. After 6 weeks of the experimental diets, body weight gain, food intake, and food efficiency ratio (FER) were significantly higher in Ovx groups than in Sham groups regardless of diet. The serum concentration of calcium, phosphorus, ALP, and calcitonin were not significantly different according to Oolong tea supplementation. There were no significant differences in urinary calcium and phosphorus excretion between all groups. The urinary DPD crosslinks value was significantly higher in the Ovx-Control group than in the Sham-Oolongtea group. Spine BMD, femur BMD, and spine BMD per body weight were significantly lower in the Ovx groups than in the Sham groups regardless of diet. In the OVX group, spine BMC per body weight, femur BMD per body weight and femur BMC per body weight were significantly higher in the Oolong tea groups than in Control groups. It was concluded that Oolong tea supplementation positively influenced bone health in ovariectomized rats.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.189-195
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• 2011

Vitamin K has been suggested to plays a role in bone metabolism. The objective of this study was to determine whether vitamin K2 supplementation is related to bone mineral density, bone formation markers, and bone resorption in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Forty Sprague-Dawley female rats (body weight, $200{\pm}10$ g) were divided into four groups: a sham group fed a control diet, a sham group fed a vitamin K2 supplemented diet, OVX fed a control diet, and OVX fed a vitamin $K_2$ supplemented diet (3.5 mg vitamin $K_2$/kg diet). All rats were fed the experimental diets for 6 weeks, and deionized water was provided ad libitum. Serum alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP), osteocalcin, and urinary deoxypyridinoline crosslink values were measured as markers of bone formation and resorption. Bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content were measured in the spine and femur using PIXImus (GE Lunar Co., Madison, WI, USA). No significant differences in body weight gain, food intake, or food efficiency ratio were observed between the control and experimental groups. Serum ALP, osteocalcin, and urinary crosslink values were not significantly different between the vitamin $K_2$ supplemented groups. No significant differences were observed for any of the variables in the sham group. Spine BMD values were significantly lower in the OVX than those in the sham groups. Spine and femur BMD per weight of vitamin $K_2$ tended to be higher than the control diet group within the OVX group, but no significant differences were observed. In conclusion, dietary vitamin $K_2$ supplementation may have a beneficial effect on spine and femur BMD in OVX rats. Further research is needed to understand the potential benefits of vitamin $K_2$ on bone loss in OVX rats.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.79-85
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• 2006

In order to study the effect of acupuncture stimulation on bone mineral density (BMD), using the ovariectomized (OVX) rat model, we assessed the degree of osteopenia by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, measured the level of locomotor activity using a metabolism measuring system, and performed histological studies of bone tissue. Twenty-four female Wistar rats (8 weeks old, 160 - 180 g)were divided into three groups. Rats in the OVX-A group underwent ovariectomy followed by acupuncture stimulation. The OVX rats in the Vehicle control group were not treated with acupuncture as a control. The rats in the control group received neither ovariectomy nor acupuncture. Acupuncture stimulation for 12 weeks in the OVX-A group inhibited the reduction in BMD of the femoral bones caused by ovariectomy. Moreover, in the two OVX groups, there was no clear difference in the level of locomotor activity between the active and resting phases prior to acupuncture stimulation in each rat, and the pattern of locomotor activity was irregular. After acupuncture stimulation of the OVX-A rats, the pattern of locomotor activity became diphasic with clear active and resting phases, as was observed in the Control group. On histological studies, the continuity of trabecular bone was maintained more favorably and bone mass was higher in the OVX-A group than in the vehicle control group. These results suggest that the increased locomotor activity that had been induced by acupuncture stimulation increased the BMD.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.83-90
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• 2016

This study was investigated the improvement effects of Ledebouriella seseloides (LS) ethanol extracts on lipid parameters in an ovariectomized animal model. Sixty, nine-week old female Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned to four groups as follows: sham-operated rats (SHAM), ovariectomized rats (OVX-CON) and ovariectomized rats that were treated with LS ethanol extracts (50 mg/kg/day and 200 mg/kg/day, respectively). The diets were fed to the rats for six weeks after their operation. The total-cholesterol and triglyceride contents on serum increased in the OVX-CON group compared to the SHAM group, but supplementation with the LS extract caused these factors to decrease. Notably, the serum LDL-cholesterol concentration in the supplemented 200 mg/kg/day LS ethanol extract group was significantly more reduced than the OVX-CON group. In addition, the platelet aggregation ability was lower in groups treated with LS than in the OVX-CON group. The alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was lower in the LS extract group compared to the OVX-CON group. Collagen content, in bone and cartilage, were reduced by ovariectomy, but the supplemented LS extract groups exhibited higher concentrations in their bones. According to these results, the improvement effects of LS extract on serum lipid parameters and osteogenesis in ovariectomized rats were illuminated.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.11-17
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• 2006

The effect of the level of casein phosphopeptide (CPP) on mineral (Ca and P) bioavailabilties and bone biomarker of aged ovariectomized (OVX) Sprague-Dawley rats were studied as a model for postmenopausal bone loss. Forty five Spargue dawley rats, 220-230 g of body weight were fed a control diet (AIN 93M) or containing different level of CPP diet for 7 weeks: $0\%$ (sham control; SC, OVX control; OC), $1\%$ (OVX low CPP diet: OL), $2\%$ (OVX medium CPP diet; OM), $3\%$ (OVX high CPP diet; OH) Ca absorption was unaffected by increasing CPP content from 0 to $3\%$. Urinary Ca excretion was increased by OVX, and decreased by CPP significantly (p < 0.05) with no evident doserelationship. The urinary P excretion was increased by CPP intake in OVX rats. The fecal excretion of P given CPP decreased in OVX with dose dependent manner. Ca and P contents of femur significantly increased by adding 2 or $3\%$ of CPP when compared with OC group and OL group (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in serum alkaline phosphatase activity and c-terminal telopeptide excretion in experimental groups. Although ovariectomy induced the increase in urinary c-terminal telopeptide excretion, 2 or $3\%$ of CPP in the diet decreased urinary c-terminal telopetide excretion significantly. These finding suggest the usefulness of CPP in the prevention of postmenopausal bone loss by decreasing urinary Ca excretion and bone resorption. Over 2 percent of CPP in the diet was effective to prevent postmenopausal bone loss.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.317-322
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• 2012

In this study we investigated the effects of supplementation with fucoidan from brown alga on the function of natural-killer (NK) cells to evaluate the possibility as an immunomodulator in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. A total of 18 female Wistar rats (six weeks) were used this study and 12 rats were OVX, and the rest of rats were sham-operated. The sham and one OVX group were fed standard diet, and the remaining OVX group received fucoidan (0.05% supplemented diet). After 12 weeks of supplementation, rats were sacrificed to assess the tumoricidal activity of the NK cells and the NO-iNOS regulation from splenocytes. The mass of body and the immune organs such as spleen and thymus were also studied. In OVX rats, body and thymus weights increased, however fucoidan supplementation did not change the body mass and organs weight compared to OVX group. Fucoidan supplementation increased NK cell activity and reduced NO-iNOS production in OVX rats. Ex vivo treatment of fucoidan increased NK cell activity in splenocytes from shame and OVX rats. Ex vivo, we confirmed that fucoidan partially reduced the NK cell activity in the presence of iNOS inhibitors in OVX-splenocytes. These results indicate fucoidan supplementation has a NK cell tumoricidal activity, which are regulated by the iNOS production in OVX rats. This suggests that fucoidan is useful for potential therapeutic strategies as a nutrient in regulating the NK cells in postmenopausal osteoporosis patients.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.704-709
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• 2015

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) seeds have long been clinically used in Korea to promote bone formation and prevent osteoporosis. In addition, the safflower buds (SB) were found to have more useful functional ingredients than safflower seed. Thus, we investigated the preventive effects of SB diet in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. The rats were divided into five groups; sham operated group, OVX alone group, OVX plus 17β-estradiol (E₂ 10 μg/kg, i.p.) and OVX plus SB diet feeding group (0.3% or 1%). Feeding of SB diet (0.3% or 3%) to OVX rats markedly increased trabecular formation in femur compared to OVX rats. Feeding of SB diet (0.3% or 3%) to OVX rats also decreased TRAP activity compared to OVX rats. These results suggest that SB diets have bone sparing effects by the decrease of osteoclast activity. We also observed that OVX rats fed with SB diet (0.3% or 3%) exhibited the decrease of calcium and phosphorus in serum compared to OVX-induced rats. Therefore, SB may be beneficial for the patients of osteoporosis, especially in postmenopausal women.