Objective: Through researching the relationship among osteoporosis and inflammatory reaction besides angiogenesis, to compare pharmacological differences between icariin and genistein to inhibit bone loss.
Methods: 6 months old female SD rats were randomly divided into SHAM group, model group, ICA group, GEN group and E group. The bone mineral density of total, femur and lumbar, serum OC, TRACP 5b, IL-6 and VEGF, biomechanics of femur and tibia microarchitecture were analyzed.
Results: Compared with SHAM group, model group of body weight, uterine weight, bone mineral density of total, femur and lumbar, serum OC, TRACP 5b, IL-6 and VEGF, biomechanics of femur and lumbar and tibia microarchitecture were significantly changed (P < 0.05). Compared with model group, ICA group of body weight, bone mineral density of total and femur, serum TRACP 5b and femural biomechanics were significantly changed (P < 0.05). GEN group of bone mineral density of total, femur and lumbar, serum OC, TRACP 5b, IL-6 and VEGF, biomechanics of femur and lumbar and tibia microarchitecture were significantly changed (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: Icariin inhibits bone loss on model rat through suppressing bone resorption. Genistein prevents bone loss on model rat by the pathway of inhibiting inflammatory reaction, activating angiogenesis, enhancing bone formation and inhibiting bone resorption. Moreover, pharmacological activity of genistein is more potential than icariin.