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Bone tissue and breast tissue are interrelated, as demonstrated by breast microcalcifications, breast cancer bone metastases, bone morphogenetic proteins, and Wnt signaling. In addition, osteoblasts and osteoclasts represent an important switch of tumor cell dormancy during bone metastasis. Damage to both types of tissues mentioned above is highly prevalent, especially in postmenopausal women, and manifests itself in osteoporosis and breast cancer. Sea buckthorn (Elaeagnus rhamnoides L.), a botanical drug with high antioxidant, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and regenerative properties, has great therapeutic potential due to the unique composition of its bioactive metabolites. This review aimed to summarize the current knowledge from in vitro and in vivo studies on the effect of sea buckthorn, as well as its most widespread flavonoids isorhamnetin, quercetin, and kaempferol, on bone and breast tissue health. In vitro studies have revealed the beneficial impacts of sea buckthorn and aforementioned flavonoids on both bone health (bone remodeling, mineralization, and oxidative stress) and breast tissue health (cancer cell proliferation, apoptosis, tumor growth, and metastatic behavior). In vivo studies have documented their protective effects against disturbed bone microarchitecture and reduced bone strength in animal models of osteoporosis, as well as against tumor expansion and metastatic properties in animal xenograft models. In any case, further research and clinical trials are needed to carefully evaluate the potential therapeutic benefits of sea buckthorn and its flavonoids. Based on the available information, however, it can be concluded that these bioactive metabolites favorably affect both bone and breast tissue health.

Cyanogenic glycosides are present in several economically important plant foods. Amygdalin, one of the most common cyanoglucoside, can be found abundantly in the seeds of apples, bitter almonds, apricots, peaches, various beans, cereals, cassava and sorghum. Amygdalin has been used for the treatment of cancer, it shows killing effects on cancer cells by release of cyanide. However, its effect on bone structure has not been investigated to date. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine a possible effect of amygdalin application on femoral bone microstructure in adult rabbits. Four month old rabbits were randomly divided into two groups of three animals each. Rabbits from E group received amygdalin intramuscularly at a dose 0.6 mg.kg-1 body weight (bw) (group E, n = 3) one time per day during 28 days. The second group of rabbits without amygdalin supplementation served as a control (group C, n = 3). After 28 days, histological structure of femoral bones in both groups of rabbits was analysed and compared. Rabbits from E group displayed different microstructure in middle part of the compact bone and near endosteal bone surface. For endosteal border, an absence of the primary vascular longitudinal bone tissue was typical. This part of the bone was formed by irregular Haversian and/or by dense Haversian bone tissues. In the middle part of substantia compacta, primary vascular longitudinal bone tissue was observed. Cortical bone thickness did not change between rabbits from E and C groups. However, rabbits from E group had a significantly lower values of primary osteons' vascular canals and secondary osteons as compared to the C group. On the other hand, all measured parameters of Haversian canals did not differ between rabbits from both groups. Our results demonstrate that intramuscular application of amygdalin at the dose used in our study affects femoral bone microstructure in rabbits.

Abstract Background This study aimed to examine femoral bone microstructure of mice after single and simultaneous administration to acrylamide and ethanol since both substances are often consumed separately and/or together by humans. Interactive effects of these toxins were analysed after one remodeling cycle. Methods Twenty clinically healthy adult mice were randomly divided into four groups following 2 weeks administration of toxins: A group - mice were fed with acrylamide (40 mg/kg bw); E group - mice were ethanol-fed (15% ethanol); AE group - mice were simultaneously fed with both toxins, and a C group – control (without acrylamide and/or ethanol supplementation). Generally, 2D and 3D imaging methods were used to determine cortical and trabecular bone tissues microstructure. Biochemical analyses of plasma parameters were also realized using commercially available ELISA tests and spectrophotometrically. Results Single and simultaneous exposure to acrylamide and ethanol affected only cortical bone microstructure. No significant changes in trabecular bone morphometry were detected among all groups. In mice from the A group, increased endocortical remodeling associated with a higher level of serum calcium and vasoconstriction of primary osteon’s vascular canals (POVC) were identified. On the contrary, increased cortical porosity consistent with a decreased relative bone volume, bone mineral density (BMD) and lower levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), glutathione (GSH), calcium in plasma and also with vasodilation of POVC were observed in the E group. In the AE group, the highest density of secondary osteons associated with a lower BMD and decreased levels of ALP, GSH were documented. The parameters of POVC and Haversian canals approximated to the C group. In addition, single and simultaneous exposure to both toxins caused liver disease consistent with a higher values of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in plasma of all experimental groups. Conclusions Single administration to acrylamide and ethanol had negative effects on cortical bone structure of mice after one remodeling cycle. However, we identified possible antagonistic impact of these toxins on the structure of the cortical bone.

Abstract Background Alcohol is one of the most commonly consumed neurotoxins by humans. Its negative effect on bone health is known for a long time. However, its impact on qualitative and quantitative 2D characteristics of the compact bone is still unclear. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate in detail the effects of subchronic alcohol exposure on compact and trabecular bone tissues microstructure of laboratory mice using 2D and 3D imaging methods. Ten clinically healthy 12 weeks-old mice (males) were randomly divided into two groups. Animals from experimental group (group E; n = 5) drank a solution composed of 15% ethanol and water (1.7 g 100% ethanol kg−1 b.w. per day) for 8 weeks, while those from control group (group C; n = 5) drank only water. Results Subchronic exposure to alcohol leads to several changes in qualitative 2D characteristics of the compact bone such as the presence of primary vascular radial bone tissue in pars anterior of endosteal border and a higher number of resorption lacunae (five times more) in the middle part of substantia compacta. Morphometrical 2D evaluations of the compact bone showed significantly increased sizes of primary osteons’ vascular canals (p