Objective: To study the efficacy of "Bushen Huoxue Liquid" (BSHXL) in male rats with osteoporosis induced by dexamethasone (DM) and its mechanism.
Methods: Forty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats at 18 months of age were chosen. They were divided into four groups, BSHXL and DM were administered appropriately for 12 weeks. General bone mineral density (GBMD), femur bending strength (FBS), serum-BGP, serum-PTH and serum-E2 were measured.
Results: GBMD, FBS in BSHXL prevention group were significantly higher than those in DM group (P < 0.01), and the same with those in normal control group (P > 0.05). GBMD, FBS in BSHXL treatment group were higher than those in DM group (P < 0.05), and lower than those in normal control group. Compared with DM group, level of serum-T in BSHXL prevention group and BSHXL treatment group increased (P < 0.05) and level of serum-PTH in those two groups decreased (P < 0.05). But in comparison with DM group, level of serum-E2 and serum-BGP in the above-mentioned two groups had no significant difference (P > 0.05).
Conclusion: BSHXL could prevent and treat osteoporosis in male rats induced by DM.