Objective: To investigate the effects of the traditional herb-epimedium on the expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6) mRNA in bone of ovariectomized rat.
Methods: Forty female rats were randomly allocated into 4 groups, 10 in each: ovariectomized (OVX) group, sham operation group, OVX followed by epimedium (group 3) or nilestriol (group 4) for 3 months respectively. All rats were then sacrificed, and total RNA were directly isolated from their right tibia. Interleukin-6 mRNA expression was detected by relative semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction technique. Lumbar bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by dual-energy X ray absorptiometry before sacrifice.
Results: The BMD of epimedium group was significantly higher than that in the OVX group (P < 0.05). On the contrary, the IL-6 mRNA expression level of epimedium group was significantly lower than that in the OVX group (P < 0.01), but higher than those in the sham and nilestrial group (P < 0.01).
Conclusions: IL-6 may play a role in the pathogenesis of postmenopausal teoporosis. Epimedium can inhibit the expression of IL-6 mRNA, which may contribute to its anti-resorptive effect.