Study of the effect of ginger and turmeric on osteoporosis in female rats

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Nutrition and Food Sciences, Home Economics Dept., Fac. of Education. Ain-Shams

2 Pathology Dept., Fac. of Veterinary, Cairo University.

3 Food Technology Research Institute.

4 Surgery, Anaethesiologh and Radiology Dept., Fac. of Veterinary, Cairo University

Abstract

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, involving inflammation and major structural changes of the joint, causing pain and functional disability. Pain and stiffness, particularly after exercise, are the major symptoms, resulting in considerable impact on ability to perform activities of daily living. There is discordance between symptoms and radiographic changes, with some sufferers not experiencing symptoms, but showing osteoarthritic changes on X-ray. The present study was performed to examine the effect of ginger and turmeric consumption on liver function (ALT, AST), phosphorus, total calcium , ionized calcium, x-ray and histopathologyon osteoporosis rats induced by prednisone acetate at a dose of 4 mg / kg bw three time a week for three weeks. On the other hand, the chemical constituent’s moisture, protein, fat, crude fibre, total digestible nutrients, ash, carbohydrate, phosphorous, calcium was determined for the tested ginger and turmeric. In addition to, volatile compounds and analysis of phytochemicals was determined for the tested ginger and turmeric.
This work was carried out on 48 non-pregnant female albino rats (age 6 to 8 weeks and about 160 to 210g body weight) classified into two main groups. The first main group (6) fed on basal diet and the second main group (42 rats)injected with prednisone acetate at a dose of 4 mg / kg bw three time a week for three weeks to cause osteoporosis and divided into seven subgroups such as each group consists of (6rats). Then fed on basal diet containing 10% -15% ginger, 10% -15% turmericand10% -15% ginger and turmeric. Results revealed that all osteoporosis groups administrated with different levels of ginger and turmeric (10-15%) had significant decrease liver function (ALT, AST), phosphorus, total calcium, ionized calcium comparing with the positive control group. On the other hand, x-ray and histopathologyof the positive control group after two months revealed bone loss of different part such as fibula, tibia and femur in addition to bone demineralization and femoral fracture and fibula bone trabexculae showed dystrophy and resorption and osteoporosis. These findings revealed that ginger andturmeric treatment attenuated and treated degrees to osteoporosis in compare to positive control group.

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