Lack of berberine effect on bone mechanical properties in rats with experimentally induced diabetes.

Multidirectional health-promoting activities of some plant-derived substances make them candidates for drugs used in diabetes and its complications such as osteoporosis. Berberine is a compound for which both antidiabetic and antiosteoporotic effects have been documented. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of berberine on the skeletal disorders induced by experimental type 1 diabetes in rats. The experiments were performed on 3-month-old female rats, divided into three groups: I - healthy control rats, II - diabetic control rats, III - diabetic rats receiving berberine. Diabetes was induced by a single streptozotocin injection. Berberine administration (50 mg/kg/day p.o.) started two weeks later and lasted four weeks. Serum bone turnover markers and other biochemical parameters, bone mass and mineralization, histomorphometric parameters and mechanical properties were studied. Diabetes induced strong disorders of bone turnover, bone microarchitecture, and strength of cancellous bone. Berberine counteracted the effect of diabetes on the bone formation marker (osteocalcin) concentration, the growth plate, and some parameters of cancellous bone microarchitecture, but did not improve bone mineralization and bone mechanical properties in the diabetic rats. The lack of effect of berberine on bone quality does not support its use in the prevention of diabetes-induced bone damage.

Effects of diosgenin on the skeletal system in rats with experimental type 1 diabetes.

There is a great interest in substances of plant origin, which may exert health-promoting activities in diabetes and its complications. Previous studies suggested that diosgenin may favorably affect both glucose metabolism and osteoporosis. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of diosgenin on the skeletal disorders induced by experimental type 1 diabetes (T1D) in rats. The experiments were performed on 3-month-old female rats, divided into three groups: I - healthy control rats, II - streptozotocin-induced diabetic control rats, III - diabetic rats receiving diosgenin. T1D was induced by a single streptozotocin injection (60 mg/kg i.p.). Diosgenin administration (50 mg/kg/day p.o.) started two weeks later and lasted four weeks. Serum bone turnover markers and other biochemical parameters, bone mass and mineralization, mechanical properties and histomorphometric parameters were examined. Diabetes induced profound metabolic disturbances and disorders of cancellous bone microarchitecture and strength. Diosgenin did not favorably affect the serum bone turnover markers and other biochemical parameters, bone mass, mineralization and mechanical properties in the diabetic rats. However, it counteracted the effect of diabetes on the growth plate and cancellous bone microarchitecture in the distal femur, indicating some limited beneficial influence on the skeleton.