Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential effect of the methanolic extract of plantGlycyrrhiza glabraroots on bone mineral density and femoral bone strength of ovariectomized rats.

Methods: Thirty 10-month-old Wistar rats were randomly separated into three groups of ten, Control, Ovariectomy and Ovariectomy-plus-Glycyrrhiza in their drinking water. Total and proximal tibial bone mineral density was measured in all groups before ovariectomy (baseline) and after 3 and 6 months post ovariectomy. Three-point-bending of the femurs and uterine weight and histology were examined at the end of the study.

Results: No significant difference was noted in bone density percentage change of total tibia from baseline to 3 months between Control and Ovariectomy-plus-Glycyrrhiza groups (+5.31% ± 4.75 and +3.30% ± 6.31 respectively,P= non significant), and of proximal tibia accordingly (+5.58% ± 6.92 and +2.61% ± 13.62,P= non significant) demonstrating a strong osteoprotective effect. There was notable difference in percentage change of total tibia from baseline to 6 months between groups Ovariectomy and Ovariectomy-plus-Glycyrrhiza (−13.03% ± 5.11 and −0.84% ± 7.63 respectively,P

Conclusions:Glycyrrhiza glabraroot extract notably protected tibial bone mineral density loss in Ovariectomy-plus-Glycyrrhiza rats in comparison with ovariectomized rats, but did not improve biomechanical strength.

Galanis, Dimitrios; Soultanis, Konstantinos; Lelovas, Pavlos; Zervas, Alexandros; Papadopoulos, Panagiotis; Galanos, Antonis; Argyropoulou, Katerina; Makropoulou, Maria; Patsaki, Anastasia; Passali, Christina; Tsingotjidou, Anastasia; Kourkoulis, Stavros; Mitakou, Sofia; and Dontas, Ismene () "Protective effect ofGlycyrrhiza glabraroots extract on bone mineral density of ovariectomized rats," BioMedicine: Vol. 9 : Iss. 2 , Article 6.
DOI: 10.37796/2211-8039.1621