Volume 25, Issue 117, November 2021

The role of Dihydroartemisinin in suppression of experimental Dexamethazone-Induced Osteoporosis in adult female albino rat

Yassmin G. Salem^1♦, Mona A. El-Shahat¹, Omnia S. Erfan¹, Mamdouh Basheir Eldesoqui¹, Walaa F. Awadin², Huda Eltahry¹

¹Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
² Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt

^♦Corresponding author
Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt

ABSTRACT

Background: Osteoporosis is a major public health problem leading to morbidity and mortality in many individuals. Osteoporosis is one of the main complications of glucocorticoid (GC) application. Currently, the employ of medical herbs has emerged as one of the main popular and preferred complementary and traditional therapy. Evidence provided that certain vegetables and fruits are essential for maintaining bone mass and preventing osteoporosis. Artemisia annua is a Chinese traditional herb which was used safely for long time in treatment of malaria. Artemisinins possess anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-adipogenic, anti-cancer and anti-microbial activities. Dihydroartemisinin (DHA) is the active metabolite of all artemisinin compounds. Aim of the study: This study was designed to link these documented prophits of dihydroartemisinin to the management of dexamethazone induced osteoporosis. Materials & methods: This study was designed to link these documented prophits of dihydroartemisinin to the management of dexamethazone induced osteoporosis. Materials & methods: 18 female adult albino rats aged 3 months were divided into 3 groups; control, Dexamethazone and Dexamethazone +Dihydroartemisinin 20 mg. We evaluated the osteoporotic changes by histopathology (HE staining, masson-goldner and immunological examination of Beta catenin (Bone formation marker), RANKL (Bone resorption marker) in lumbar vertebrae. Conclusion: Dexamethazone clearly inhibited bone formation and induced osteoclastogenesis as proved by masson-goldner staining and immunological staining. The osteoporotic changes were reversed with dihydroartemisinin treatment. We have demonstrated that treatment with dihydroartemisinin at the same time with dexamethazone has significantly improved the histological bone indices as compared to dexamethazone osteoporotic group. Dihydroartemisinin may be a new treatment strategy for the prevention of glucocorticoids-induced osteoporosis.

Keywords: osteoporosis, Dexamethazone, Dihydroartemisinin, albino rats

Medical Science, 2021, 25(117), 2876-2884

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