Asian Elm tree inner bark prevents articular cartilage deterioration in ovariectomized obese rats with monoiodoacetate-induced osteoarthritis

Objective: We investigated whether long-term consumption of Korean mistletoe or Asian Ulmi cortex would prevent or delay menopausal symptoms and progression of osteoarthritis in estrogen-deficient obese rats. Methods: Ovariectomized (OVX) rats were provided a 45% fat diet containing either (1) 0.6% lyophilized water extract of Korean mistletoe (KME) + 1.4% dextrose (KME; n = 10), (2) 2% lyophilized water extract of Ulmi cortex (UCE; n = 10), (3) 30 μg/kg bw 17β-estradiol + 2% dextrose (positive control; n = 10), (4) 2% dextrose (placebo; OVX-control; n = 10), or (5) 2% dextrose (normal-control; n = 10) for 4 weeks. At the beginning of the 5th week, OVX rats, except in the normal-control group, were given articular injections of monoiodoacetate into the right knee and the assigned diets were provided for an additional 3 weeks. The rats in the normal-control had injections of saline into the right knee. Results: KME, but not UCE, partially prevented the insulin resistance and the loss of bone mineral density and lean mass. The limping scores were lower in the descending order of the OVX-control > KME and 17β-estradiol > UCE > normal-control at day 14 and 21 (P 
Source: Menopause - Category: OBGYN Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research