The Effects of Cosmos caudatus on Structural Bone Histomorphometry in Ovariectomized Rats

Osteoporosis is considered a serious debilitating disease.Cosmos caudatus(ulam raja), a plant containing antioxidant compounds and minerals, may be used to treat and prevent osteoporosis. This study determines the effectiveness ofC. caudatusas bone protective agent in postmenopausal osteoporosis rat model. Thirty-two female rats, aged 3 months old, were divided into 4 groups. Group one was sham operated (sham) while group two was ovariectomized. These two groups were given ionized water by forced feeding. Groups three and four were ovariectomized and given calcium 1% ad libitum and force-fed withC. caudatusat the dose of 500 mg/kg, respectively. Treatments were given six days per week for a period of eight weeks. Body weight was monitored every week and structural bone histomorphometry analyses of the femur bones were performed. Ovariectomy decreased trabecular bone volume (BV/TV), decreased trabecular number (Tb.N), and increased trabecular separation (Tb.Sp). Both calcium 1% and 500 mg/kgC. caudatusreversed the above structural bone histomorphometric parameters to normal level.C. caudatusshows better effect compared to calcium 1% on trabecular number (Tb.N) and trabecular separation (Tb.Sp). Therefore,Cosmos caudatus500 mg/kg has the potential to act as the therapeutic agent to restore bone damage in postmenopausal women.