Effect of Epimedium Grandiflorum Morr on Prevention and Treatment of Rat Mandible and Femur Bone Loss

Osteoporosis is a common disease with features of gradual loss of mineral content and bone mass. Pathologic fracture may occur in the vertebrae, femur, radius, and even mandible. Bone loss during the early stages of oestrogen deficiency is clearly associated with increased bone turnover. Oestrogen treatment has a bone-protective effect associated with decreasing bone turnover in ovariectomised (OV) rats. Bisphosphonate compounds and oestrogen both depress bone turnover with a similar mechanism. Mandible bone loss, similar to whole body bone loss, is closely related to the lack of oestrogen in menopausal women. Some studies have shown that in menopausal women, the rate of denture renewal in patients with osteoporosis is higher than for those without osteoporosis because of the absorption of the alveolar bone. Chinese herbal medicines have been used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for a long time. They can have fewer side effects than the chemical reagents. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the effects of a Chinese herbal medicine, Epimedium grandiflorum Morr (EG) on the prevention and treatment of bone loss of mandible in OV rats.