Effects of Yam and Diosgenin on Calpain Systems in Skeletal Muscle of Ovariectomized Rats

Safety of Innovative Nanotechnology Oral Formulations Loaded with Bioactive Menopause Molecules: Influence of Genotoxicity and Biochemical Parameters on a Menopausal Rat Model

In recent years, nanoparticles have gained significant importance due to their unique properties, such as pharmacological, electrical, optical, and magnetic abilities, contributing to the growth of the science and technology sector. Particular naturally derived biomolecules with beneficial effects on menopause disorder have been the subject of studies of pharmaceutical formulation to obtain alternative pharmaceutical forms with increased bioavailability and without side effects, as in nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) loaded with such active ingredients. In the present study, one stage of a broader project, we have performed pharmacotoxicology studies for six combinatory innovative nanocapsule pharmaceutical forms containing active natural biomolecules before considering them as oral formulas for (1) in vitro toxicity studies on culture cells and (2) in vivo preclinical studies on a surgically induced menopause model of Wistar female rats, and the influence of the NLCs on key biochemical parameters: lipid profile (TG, Chol, HDL), glycemic markers (Gli), bone markers (Pac, Palc, Ca, phosphorus), renal markers (Crea, urea, URAC), inflammation (TNF), oxidative stress (GSH, MDA), and estrogen-progesterone hormonal profile. The micronucleus test did not reveal the genotoxicity of the tested compounds; the menopause model showed no significant safety concerns for the six tested formulas evaluated using the blood biochemical parameters; and the results showed the potential hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, hypouricemic, and antioxidant potential of one of the tested formulas containing nano diosgenin and glycyrrhizic acid.

A circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network plays a role in the protective effect of diosgenin on alveolar bone loss in ovariectomized rats

Background

The present study aimed to assess the perturbation in circular RNA (circRNA)/mRNA expression profiles and a circRNA-miRNA-mRNA coexpression network involved in the potential protective effect of diosgenin (DIO) on alveolar bone loss in rats subjected to ovariectomy (OVX).

Methods

The Wistar rats (female) manipulated with sham operation were classified as the SHAM group and the grouping of OVX rats administered with DIO, estradiol valerate or vehicle for 12 weeks was DIO group, EV group and OVX group respectively. Following treatments, the plasmatic levels of osteocalcin and tumor necrosis factor-alpha and the microstructure of alveolar bone were assayed. Based on microarray analyses, we identified differentially expressed (DE) circRNAs and mRNAs in alveolar bone of rats in both OVX and DIO group. The DE circRNAs and DE mRNAs involved in the bone metabolism pathway validated by RT-qPCR were considered key circRNAs/mRNAs. On the basis of these key circRNAs/mRNAs, we predicted the overlapping relative miRNAs of key circRNAs/mRNAs, and a circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network was built.

Results

DIO showed an anti-osteopenic effect on the rat alveolar bone loss induced by OVX. In total, we found 10 DE circRNAs (6 downregulated and 4 upregulated) and 614 DE mRNAs (314 downregulated and 300 upregulated) in samples of the DIO group compared with those of the OVX group. However, only one circRNA (rno_circRNA_016717) and seven mRNAs (Sfrp1, Csf1, Il1rl1, Nfatc4, Tnfrsf1a, Pik3c2g, and Wnt9b) were validated by qRT-PCR and therefore considered key circRNA/mRNAs. According to these key circRNA/mRNAs and overlapping predicted miRNAs, a coexpression network was constructed. After network analysis, one circRNA-miRNA-mRNA axis (circRNA_016717/miR-501-5p/Sfrp1) was identified.

Conclusion

The mechanism of DIO inhibiting alveolar bone loss after OVX is possibly relevant to the simultaneous inhibition of osteogenesis and osteoclastogenesis by mediating the expression of important molecules in the Wnt, PI3K, RANK/RANKL or osteoclastogenic cytokine pathways. The circRNA_016717/miR-501-5p/Sfrp1 axis may play important roles in these processes.

Beneficial effects of phytoestrogens and their metabolites produced by intestinal microflora on bone health

Phytoestrogens are a class of bioactive compounds derived from plants and exert various estrogenic and antiestrogenic effects. Estrogen deficiency osteoporosis has become a serious problem in elderly women. The use of ovariectomized (OVX) rat or mice models to simulate the postmenopausal condition is well established. This review aimed to clarify the sources, biochemistry, absorption, metabolism, and mode of action of phytoestrogens on bone health in intervention studies. In vitro, phytoestrogens promote protein synthesis, osteoprotegerin/receptor activation of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand ratio, and mineralization by osteoblast-like cells (MC3T3-E1). In the OVX murine model, administration of phytoestrogens can inhibit differentiation and activation of osteoclasts, expression of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase, and secretion of pyridinoline compound. Phytoestrogens also enhance bone formation and increase bone mineral density and levels of alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, osteopontin, and α1(I) collagen. Results of mechanistic studies have indicated that phytoestrogens suppress the rate of bone resorption and enhance the rate of bone formation.

Osteoprotective effect of Monascus-fermented dioscorea in ovariectomized rat model of postmenopausal osteoporosis

This experiment established the ovariectomized (OVX) rat model of postmenopausal osteoporosis and examined the effect of the oral administration of different dosages of dioscorea, red mold dioscorea (RMD), and soy isoflavones on bone mineral density (BMD). Three months after osteoporosis had been induced and 4 weeks after feeding had begun, the tibia and femur BMD of OVX rats administered RMD showed significant increases compared with that of all other groups of OVX rats. Closer examination using microcomputed tomography also revealed that the RMD-administered rats had denser trabecular bone volume and a higher trabecular number compared to all other rat groups. Reconstructed 3D imaging indicated increases in cancellous bone mineral content, cancellous bone mineral density, and cortical bone mineral content of the proximal tibia in OVX rats. These findings indicate that administration of monacolin K and phytoestrogen diosgenin could prevent bone loss induced by estrogen deficiency.

The assessment of efficacy of Diascorea alata for menopausal symptom treatment in Taiwanese women

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of Diascorea alata for treatment of menopausal symptoms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Two-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical investigation on 50 menopausal women randomly assigned to two groups, treated for 12 months with either placebo or two sachets daily of Diascorea extracts containing 12 mg/sachet. Primary outcome measures were changes in the Greene Climacteric Scale caused by Diascorea compared with placebo; secondary outcomes were changes in plasma hormone profiles. One-way ANCOVA test was performed to investigate the significance.

RESULTS

At 6 months and at the end of treatment, those women who received Diascorea showed general improvement in almost all the clinical symptoms investigated. A significant reduction was noted in the total Greene scores in the Diascorea group assessed at the end of 12 months' treatment (p < 0.01). This phenomenon was more significant for the psychological parameters of anxiety than for other parameters. Apparent improvements were noted in the parameters 'feeling tense or nervous' (p = 0.007), 'insomnia' (p = 0.004), 'excitable' (p = 0.047) and 'musculoskeletal pain' (p = 0.019) among those receiving Diascorea. Diascorea consumption also resulted in positive effects on blood hormone profiles.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with placebo, Diascorea alata improves symptoms, particularly the psychological parameters in menopausal women. Safety monitoring indicated that standardized extracts of Diascorea alata were safe during daily administration over a period of 12 months.