Role of phytoestrogenic oils in alleviating osteoporosis associated with ovariectomy in rats

Protective effects of long-term nitrate administration against ovariectomy-induced kidney dysfunction in rats

BACKGROUND

Menopause is associated with higher risks of chronic kidney disease. We determined the effect of nitrate on ovariectomy-induced kidney dysfunction METHODS: Control, ovariectomized (OVX), control + nitrate, and OVX + nitrate female Wistar rats (n = 10/group); sodium nitrate (100 mg/L) administered in drinking water for 9 months. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and albumin excretion rate (AER) were calculated from serum and urine parameters. At month 9, serum and kidney levels of nitric oxide (NO) metabolites (NOx), oxidative stress indices, and mRNA expression of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) were measured; with histological analyses of the kidney.

RESULTS

Compared to controls, OVX rats had lower GFR (31%, p = 0.0079), higher glomerular tuft volume (30%, p = 0.0402), and Bowman's capsule space (39%, p = 0.0224). OVX rats had lower serum NOx (33%, p = 0.0061) and kidney eNOS mRNA expression (34%, p = 0.0368). Nitrate administration to: (i) control rats increased serum NOx (59%, p < 0.0001), with no effect on other parameters; (ii) OVX rats increased serum (85%, p < 0.0001) and kidney (106%, p = 0.0008) NOx values, and restored kidney eNOS expression to normal value. Nitrate administration to OVX rats increased GFR (36%, p = 0.0361) and restored glomerular tuft volume and Bowman's capsule space to normal values. In OVX rats, it also increased serum catalase (CAT) activity, serum and kidney total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and decreased serum malondialdehyde (MDA).

CONCLUSIONS

Low-dose long-term nitrate administration protects against ovariectomy-induced kidney dysfunction in rats. This effect is associated with reducing ovariectomy-induced oxidative stress and restoring eNOS-derived NO deficiency in systemic circulation and the kidney.

Serum biomarker-based osteoporosis risk prediction and the systemic effects of Trifolium pratense ethanolic extract in a postmenopausal model

Background

Recent years, a soaring number of marketed Trifolium pratense (red clover) extract products have denoted that a rising number of consumers are turning to natural alternatives to manage postmenopausal symptoms. T. pratense ethanolic extract (TPEE) showed immense potential for their uses in the treatment of menopause complications including osteoporosis and hormone dependent diseases. Early diagnosis of osteoporosis can increase the chance of efficient treatment and reduce fracture risks. Currently, the most common diagnosis of osteoporosis is performed by using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). However, the major limitation of DXA is that it is inaccessible and expensive in rural areas to be used for primary care inspection. Hence, serum biomarkers can serve as a meaningful and accessible data for osteoporosis diagnosis.

Methods

The present study systematically elucidated the anti-osteoporosis and estrogenic activities of TPEE in ovariectomized (OVX) rats by evaluating the bone microstructure, uterus index, serum and bone biomarkers, and osteoblastic and osteoclastic gene expression. Leverage on a pool of serum biomarkers obtained from this study, recursive feature elimination with a cross-validation method (RFECV) was used to select useful biomarkers for osteoporosis prediction. Then, using the key features extracted, we employed five classification algorithms: extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), random forest, support vector machine, artificial neural network, and decision tree to predict the bone quality in terms of T-score.

Results

TPEE treatments down-regulated nuclear factor kappa-B ligand, alkaline phosphatase, and up-regulated estrogen receptor β gene expression. Additionally, reduced serum C-terminal telopeptides of type 1 collagen level and improvement in the estrogen dependent characteristics of the uterus on the lining of the lumen were observed in the TPEE intervention group. Among the tested classifiers, XGBoost stood out as the best performing classification model with the highest F1-score and lowest standard deviation.

Conclusions

The present study demonstrates that TPEE treatment showed therapeutic benefits in the prevention of osteoporosis at the transcriptional level and maintained the estrogen dependent characteristics of the uterus. Our study revealed that, in the case of limited number of features, RFECV paired with XGBoost model could serve as a powerful tool to readily evaluate and diagnose postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13020-022-00622-7.

Chrysin alleviates alteration of bone-remodeling markers in ovariectomized rats and exhibits estrogen-like activity in silico

BACKGROUND

Evidences are beginning to accrue that flavonoids, particularly phytoestrogens, could have beneficial effects against several age-related diseases linked to estrogen deficiency including postmenopausal osteoporosis.

METHODS

In this study, the effect of chrysin on selected bone-remodeling markers in ovariectomized rats and its estrogen-like activity in silico were investigated.

RESULTS

The data indicated that administration of chrysin at 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg for 6 weeks to OVX rats significantly (p < 0.05) prevented body weight gain and partially reverse uterine weight loss. In addition, treatment of OVX rats significantly (p < 0.01) increased femur dry weight, femur ash weight, bone ash calcium, and phosphorous levels in a dose-dependent manner. However, there was significant (p < 0.001) decline in serum estradiol level in all OVX rats compared to the sham-operated group. Interestingly, administration of chrysin significantly (p < 0.05) reversed the reduction of estradiol induced by ovariectomy compared to untreated OVX rats. Moreover, administration of chrysin to OVX rats significantly (p < 0.05) suppressed excessive elevation of bone-remodeling markers expression compared to untreated OVX rats. Similarly, molecular docking analysis revealed that chrysin interacts with both α and β estrogen receptors with exothermic binding energies of -229.83 kcal/Mol and -252.72 kcal/Mol, respectively, and also fits perfectly into the active site of both α and β estrogen receptors.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated that chrysin exhibits potential antiosteoporotic effects against bone loss in OVX rats through enhanced bone mineral contents and preventing excessive elevation of bone-remodeling markers and bone-resorbing cytokine.

Camelina Oil Supplementation Improves Bone Parameters in Ovariectomized Rats

The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of administration of Camelina sativa oil (CO) as a source of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) on bone parameters in ovariectomized rats (OVX). Overall, 40 10-week-old healthy female Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups with 10 animals in each. Rats in the control group (SHO) were subjected to a sham operation, whereas experimental rats (OVX) were ovariectomized. After a 7-day recovery period, the SHO the rats received orally 1 mL of physiological saline for the next 6 weeks. The OVX rats received orally 1 mL of physiological saline (OVX-PhS), 5 g/kg BW (OVX-CO5), or 9 g/kg BW (OVX-CO9) of camelina oil. The use of camelina oil had a significant effect on body weight, lean mass, and fat mass. The camelina oil administration suppressed the decrease in the values of some densitometric, tomographic, and mechanical parameters of femur caused by estrogen deficiency. The CO treatment increased significantly the serum level of osteocalcin and decreased the serum level of C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen in the OVX rats. In conclusion, camelina oil exerts a positive osteotropic effect by inhibiting ovariectomy-induced adverse changes in bones. Camelina oil supplementation can be used as an efficient method for improving bone health in a disturbed state. However, further research must be carried out on other animal species supplemented with the oil.

Irisin Has a Protective Role against Osteoporosis in Ovariectomized Rats

The reduction in estrogen levels results in a decrease in bone density at menopause. Irisin is a myokine that modulates the benefits of exercise, which may include bone health. This study was planned to examine irisin's impact in preventing osteoporosis after ovariectomy. 4 groups of female albino rats (10 rats/group): control, sham-operated, ovariectomized (OVX-control), and OVX-irisin-treated. Serum levels of bone markers [osteocalcin (OC), bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), calcium (Ca⁺⁺), phosphorus (P)], glucose, and insulin were being measured. Body mass index, Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), dry and ash femur weight, and bone contents of Ca⁺⁺ and P were investigated. The femur was examined histopathologically. The OVX-control group showed an increase in serum levels of OC, BALP, TRAP, calcium, phosphorus, BMI, glucose, insulin, and HOMA-IR (P < 0.05) and a reduction in dry and ash weight of the femur, the concentration of calcium and phosphorus content in bone ash (P < 0.05). The OVX-irisin-treated group exhibited a decrease in serum levels of OC, BALP and TRAP, calcium, phosphorus, BMI, glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR (P < 0.05), and a rise in dry and ash weight of the femur, the concentration of calcium and phosphorus in bone ash (P < 0.05). Histological examination of the distal femur diaphysis of the OVX-irisin-treated group exhibited proper bone architecture and density compared with that of the OVX-control group. It is concluded that irisin treatment in the OVX rats safeguarded the regular bone architecture and normal levels of serum bone biomarkers. Irisin may be a possible novel target in the prohibition of postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Does Panchatikta ghrita have anti-osteoporotic effect? Assessment in an experimental model in ovariectomized rats

BACKGROUND

Osteoporosis is a public health problem in the elderly wherein a decrease in bone mass and mineral density increases the at risk of fractures. Panchatikta Ghrita (PG) is a classical Ayurvedic formulation that may help slow bone degeneration.

OBJECTIVE

This experimental study was conducted to assess the efficacy of Panchatikta ghrita (PG) in protecting against postmenopausal osteoporosis in ovariectomized rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The experiment was initiated after Institutional Animal Ethics Committee approval. 96 female Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 8 groups viz. sham control (NC), diseased control (DC), vehicle control (VC), 3 test drug (PG) groups (PG1, PG2 & PG3 - 0.9, 1.8 and 2.7gm/kg body weight respectively) and 2 standard control (SC) groups - SC1 received 17α-ethinylestradiol 1μg/kg/day while SC2 received alendronate (7mg/kg/week). Study medications were administereddaily for four months. Bone specific biomarkers viz. osteocalcin and TRAP-5b were estimated at baseline and end of study. Animals were sacrificed on day 121 and their femurs and tibiae were harvested for histomorphometric analysisand bone microarchitectural studies.

RESULTS

Serum osteocalcin and TRAP-5b showed significant increase (p < 0.001) in levels in DC group as compared to sham controls. All 3 doses of PG decreased bone specific biomarker levels with maximal effect seen with highest dose of PG similar to that seen with standard drugs. PG also significantly improved bone micro architectural parameters like bone mineral density and mineral content at higher dose levels. Decrease in osteoclasts and significant dose dependent increase in bone hardness and elasticity was seen with PG which was comparable to standard drugs.

CONCLUSION

PG increased bone mineral density and content, decreased turnover of bone specific biomarkers and osteoclast formation, indicating its protective effect against experimentally induced postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Analysis of anti-osteoporosis function of chlorogenic acid by gene microarray profiling in ovariectomy rat model

The aim of the present study was to clarify the effect of chlorogenic acid (CGA) on estrogen deficiency-induced osteoporosis based on micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and potential mechanism of gene regulation via microarray profiling. Eighteen female Sprague–Dawley rats were divided randomly into sham-operated group, ovariectomy (OVX) plus saline vehicle group, and OVX plus CGA treatment group (CGA at 45 mg/kg/day). The loss of bone mass of the femoral metaphysis was evaluated by micro-CT to represent. Gene expression profiling was analyzed for bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) of OVX and OVXT groups. Bioinformatics analysis was used to find the potential pathways regulated by CGA. OVX-induced osteoporosis could decrease femur bone mineral density (BMD), bone volume/tissue volume (BV/TV), trabecula number (Tb.N), and trabecular thickness (Tb.Th) and increased the trabecular separation (Tb.Sp) and structure model index (SMI) in the rats. Gene microarray profiling showed 121 differentially expressed genes in collected BMSCs between OVX and OVXT groups were identified with a threshold of a two-fold change and P<0.05. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) was used to analyze the potential mechanism of CGA and we observed that many mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway associtated genes were altered, suggesting this pathway may play an important role. CGA improved bone quality by modifying the BMD and trabecular microarchitecture. Differential expression genes were screened by gene microarray profile and the results suggested MAPK pathway might participate in the process of OVX-induced bone remodeling.

Effects of tanshinol on markers of bone turnover in ovariectomized rats and osteoblast cultures

This study was aimed to explore the role of tanshinol in osteoblastic cells, and the role in vivo using an ovariectomized (OVX) rat model of osteoporosis. MC3T3-E1 cells were pretreated with 0–400 μg/mL tanshinol, and then cell viability, apoptosis, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and the expressions of Collagen Type I Alpha 1 (Col1A1), Runt Related Transcription Factor 2 (Runx2) and osteocalcin (OCN) were respectively detected. Rats underwent OVX surgery was intervened with 5 mg/kg tanshinol or 25 μg/kg β-estradiol (E2) for 12 weeks. The triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C and LDL-C), ALP, OCN and Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-5b (TRACP-5b) contents were measured. Besides, the expressions of main factors in nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathway were detected. The results showed that tanshinol significantly promoted MC3T3-E1 cells viability and ALP activity, while inhibited apoptosis (P < 0.05); Col1A1, Runx2 and OCN were all up-regulated by tanshinol (P < 0.05). In OVX rats, the contents of TG, TC, LDL-C, ALP, OCN and TRACP-5b were all increased (P < 0.05), while HDL-C was decreased (P < 0.05). Tanshinol significantly alleviated these aberrant regulations (P < 0.05). Inhibitory subunit of NF-κB (IκBα) and p65 were both remarkably phosphorylated by OVX, while this phosphorylation was partially neutralized by tanshinol (P < 0.05). In conclusion, we demonstrated that tanshinol exerted a bone-protective function by modulating the markers of bone turnover possibly via blocking NF-κB pathway. This study will provide new evidence that tanshinol is a potential therapeutic option for the relief of estrogen deficiency-induced osteoporosis.

Chlorogenic Acid Prevents Osteoporosis by Shp2/PI3K/Akt Pathway in Ovariectomized Rats

Cortex Eucommiae is used worldwide in traditional medicine, various constituents of Cortex Eucommiae, such as chlorogenic acid (CGA), has been reported to exert anti-osteoporosis activity in China, but the mechanism about their contribution to the overall activity is limited. The aims of this study were to determine whether chlorogenic acid can prevent estrogen deficiency-induced osteoporosis and to analyze the mechanism of CGA bioactivity. The effect of CGA on estrogen deficiency-induced osteoporosis was performed in vivo. Sixty female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided randomly among a sham-operated group and five ovariectomy (OVX) plus treatment subgroups: saline vehicle, 17α-ethinylestradiol (E2), or CGA at 9, 27, or 45 mg/kg/d. The rats’ femoral metaphyses were evaluated by micro-computed tomography (μCT). The mechanism of CGA bioactivity was investigated in vitro. Bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) were treated with CGA, with or without phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor LY294002. BMSCs proliferation and osteoblast differentiation were assessed with 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and alkaline phosphatase, with or without Shp2 interfering RNA (RNAi). The results display that CGA at 27 and 45 mg/kg/day inhibited the decrease of bone mineral density (BMD) that induced by OVX in femur (p< 0.01), significantly promoted the levels of bone turnover markers, and prevented bone volume fraction (BV/TV), connectivity density (CoonD), trabecular number (Tb.N), trabecular thickness (Tb.Th) (all p< 0.01) to decrease and prevented the trabecular separation (Tb.Sp), structure model index (SMI)(both p< 0.01) to increase. CGA at 1 or 10 μM enhanced BMSC proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. CGA at 0.1 to 10 μM increased phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt) and cyclin D1. These effects were reversed by LY294002. CGA at 1 or 10 μM increased BMSC differentiation to osteoblasts (p< 0.01), Shp2 RNAi suppressed CGA-induced osteoblast differentiation by decreasing Shp2, p-Akt, and cyclin D1. This study found that CGA improved the BMD and trabecular micro-architecture for the OVX-induced osteoporosis. Therefore, CGA might be an effective alternative treatment for postmenopausal osteoporosis. CGA promoted proliferation of osteoblast precursors and osteoblastic differentiation of BMSCs via the Shp2/PI3K/Akt/cyclin D1 pathway.

Transplantation of Adipose Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell (ATMSC) Expressing Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Reduces Bone Loss in Ovariectomized Osteoporosis Mice

Osteoporosis is a common health problem severely affecting the quality of life of many people, especially women. Current treatment options for osteoporosis are limited due to their association with several side-effects and moderate efficacy. Therefore, novel therapies for osteoporosis are needed. This study tested the feasibility of adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cell (ATMSC)-based human alpha-1 antitrypsin (hAAT, SERPINA1) gene therapy for the prevention of bone loss in an ovariectomized (OVX) mouse model. Eight-week-old female C57BL6 mice underwent ovariectomy and were treated with hAAT (protein therapy), ATMSC (stem-cell therapy), ATMSC + hAAT (combination of ATMSC and hAAT therapy), and ATMSCs infected with lentiviral vectors expressing hAAT (ATMSC-based hAAT gene therapy). The study showed that lenti-hAAT vector-infected ATMSCs (ATMSC-LV-hAAT) produced high levels of hAAT. Transplantation of these cells significantly decreased OVX-induced serum levels of interleukin 6 and interleukin 1 beta, and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B gene expression levels in bone tissue. Immunohistological analysis revealed that transplanted cells migrated to the bone tissue and secreted hAAT. Importantly, bone microstructure analysis by microcomputerized tomography showed that this treatment significantly protected against OVX-induced bone loss. The results suggest a novel strategy for the treatment of osteoporosis in humans.

Antiosteoporotic effect of Petroselinum crispum, Ocimum basilicum and Cichorium intybus L. in glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis in rats

BACKGROUND

Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIO) is one of the serious side effects which have become the most common secondary osteoporosis. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of aqueous extract of parsley, basil and chicory on glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis in rats.

METHODS

Fifty Female rats were divided into five groups and treated for 8 weeks as follow: group 1 served as control; group (2) subcutaneously injected with 0.1 mg/kg b. wt. dexamethasone dissolved in saline; group 3 received similar dose of dexamethasone together with aqueous parsley extract in a dose of 2 g/kg b. wt.; group 4 received similar dose of dexamethasone together with 400 mg/kg b. wt. aqueous basil extract and group 5 received similar dose of dexamethasone together with 100 mg/kg b. wt. aqueous chicory extract.

RESULTS

The dexamethasone group showed a significant decrease in serum E2, Ca, P levels and significant decrease in total BMD, BMC and a significant increase in serum PTH, ALP and ACP. Bone TBARs was significantly increased while GSH, antioxidant enzymes were significantly decreased. These changes were attenuated by parsley, basil and chicory extracts in the group 3, 4 and 5 respectively.

CONCLUSION

Aqueous extracts of parsley, basil and chicory showed bone protection against glucocorticoid-induced in rats. From our results, we concluded that chicory has a potent protective effect more than parsley and basil due to containing flavonoids and inulin.

Stereological study of the effect of black olive hydroalcoholic extract on osteoporosis in vertebra and tibia in ovariectomized rats

A cocktail of many different antioxidants might be more effective than supplementation with a single molecule, and it closely resembles the natural environment in which active compounds were found. This is the first study well-grounded in stereological examination that showed that black olive extract effectively can ameliorate the quantitative changes of the bone structure and prevented bone loss in this osteoporosis animal model.

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to quantitatively evaluate the effects of black olive extract consumption on treatment of ovariectomized (OVX) induced osteoporosis in rats. This is the first study well-grounded in stereological examination.

METHODS

Ninety adult rats were allocated to control, sham-operated, OVX, and olive-supplemented OVX groups (received 250-, 500-, and 750-mg/kg body weight black olive hydroalcoholic extract orally) for 16 weeks. At the end of the experiment, blood samples were collected, and plasma levels of calcium, phosphorus, and alkaline phosphatase were assayed. Then, the specimens from both the tibia and fifth lumbar vertebra (L5) bones were processed, and stereological analysis was performed.

RESULTS

Administration of extract resulted in decrease of alkaline phosphatase level during the treatment. After treatment of OVX rats with three doses of extract, the total number of the osteocytes revealed an increment in 500- and 750-mg/kg treated groups in comparison to the OVX group. This increment was significant only in L5. Compared to the OVX group, a significant increase was observed in the number of osteoblastsin L5 vertebra in three doses of extract-treated groups. However, this increment in tibia was statistically significant only in 750-mg/kg black olive hydroalcoholic extract-treated group. Moreover, the number of osteoclast cells were significantly decreased in vertebra and tibia in the treated groups compared to the OVX group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Black olive hydroalcoholic extract effectively can ameliorate the quantitative changes of the bone structure and prevented bone loss in this osteoporosis animal model. Thus, it can be a promising candidate for treatment of accelerated bone loss especially in postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Estrogen and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation have a synergistic hypotriglyceridemic effect in ovariectomized rats

The n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), EPA and DHA, as well as estrogen have been shown to decrease circulating levels of triglyceride (TG), but their underlying mode of action is unclear. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of n-3 PUFA consumption and estrogen injection on TG metabolism. Rats (n = 48) were fed a modified AIN-93G diet with 0, 1, or 2 % EPA + DHA relative to the total energy intake during 12 weeks. At 8 weeks, rats were ovariectomized (OVX), and after a 1-week recovery, rats were injected with either 17β-estradiol-3-benzoate (E2) or corn oil for the last 3 weeks. The n-3 PUFA consumption and E2 injection independently decreased the hepatic expressions of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1, acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1, fatty acid synthase (FAS), and diacylglycerol acyltransferase 2 (DGAT2) (P < 0.05). There were interactions between n-3 PUFA consumption and E2 injection on hepatic expression of FAS and DGAT2. In addition, n-3 PUFA consumption and E2 injection up-regulated the expression of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), phosphorylated AMPK, peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptor α, and carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 in liver and skeletal muscle. E2 injection increased the expression of estrogen receptor α and β in skeletal muscle and liver, but n-3 PUFA consumption increased the expression of both receptors only in skeletal muscle. The present study suggests that the hypotriglyceridemic effects of n-3 PUFA consumption and E2 injection could be due to the down-regulation of hepatic TG synthesis and up-regulation of TG oxidation in liver and skeletal muscle in OVX rats.

Osteoprotective effect of soybean and sesame oils in ovariectomized rats via estrogen-like mechanism

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the osteoprotective effects of soybean oil (SbO) and sesame oil (SO) in ovarictomized (OVX) rats. The results indicated that the OVX rats exhibited a significant decrease in Ca and P level in both serum and bone, the activities of the antioxidant enzymes SOD and CAT and the antioxidant biomarker GSH accompanied with a marked increase in the oxidative stress markers MDA and PC, the inflammatory indices (TNF-α, CRP levels, WBCs counts and ACP activity) in, both, bone and serum. Supplementating the diet of the OVX rats with SbO (15 % w/w) or SO (10 % w/w) for 2 months to resulted in modulation of the alterations in all tested parameters and succeeded to restore minerals, antioxidant enzymes, antioxidant biomarkers, oxidative stress markers, inflammatory indices, and WBCs counts. It could be concluded that the consumption of diets supplemented with SbO or SO might be useful for preventing bone loss caused by estrogen deficiency in ovariectomy status.

Effects of dietary isoflavones from Puerariae radix on lipid and bone metabolism in ovariectomized rats

Puerariae radix, the dried root of Pueraria lobata Ohwi, is one of the earliest and most important edible crude herbs used for various medical purposes in oriental medicine. This study evaluated the metabolic effects of total isoflavones from P. lobata (PTIF) in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. The OVX rats were divided into four groups treated with distilled water, 17β-estradiol (E2 10 μg/kg, once daily, i.p.) and PTIF (30 and 100 mg/kg, once daily, p.o.) for eight weeks. The treatments with high-dose PTIF significantly decreased the bone mineral density (BMD) loss in the femur and inhibited the increase in body weight and lipoprotein levels compared to the OVX-control group without elevating the serum levels of the liver enzymes, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT). Furthermore, PTIF exhibits a hepatoprotective effect in OVX-induced hepatic steatosis, indicated with reduced hepatic lipid contents. Taken together, our findings suggest that PTIF may be useful for controlling lipid and bone metabolism, at least in OVX rats. Further research is necessary to determine whether PTIF will have the same effects in humans.