Effect of Korean Oriental Medicine Extract on Bone Mass as Compared with Alendronate in Ovariectomized Rats

A number of alternative medicines (AMs) have often been used as traditional therapies for various diseases without scientific or clinical evidence supporting their use. The present study examined the pharmaceutical effects of an AM extract with a long history of use as a traditional medicine for various bone diseases. To evaluate it as a potential candidate for use as an anti-osteoporotic drug, we investigated the effects of the AM extract on the progression of bone loss in ovariectomized (OVX) rats fed a calcium (Ca)-deficient diet for 4 or 12 weeks. We also compared the AM extract with alendronate, an anti-resorptive drug. The AM extract did not influence bone turnover as indicated by biochemical markers [i.e., deoxypyridinoline (DPD)]. In contrast, alendronate treatment seemed to reduce bone turnover via inhibition of bone resorption as evidenced by reduced urinary DPD concentrations accompanied by a tendency for decreased serum tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase. Administration of alendronate or AM e...