The Effect of Ceratonia siliqua Supplement on Bone Mineral Density in Ovariectomy-induced Osteoporosis in Rats

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the effect of Ceratonia siliqua on bone mineral density (BMD) as a nonpharmaceutical alternative treatment for postmenopausal osteoporosis. Materials and Methods: Thirty mature female Wistar rats were randomly separated into three groups of 10: Control, ovariectomized (OVX), and ovariectomized-plus-C. siliqua (OVX+CS). Total and proximal BMD were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) in all groups before ovariectomy, and at 3 and 6 months postoperatively. At the end of the study, the femurs were subjected to a threepoint bending test. Results: DEXA revealed no statistically significant difference in absolute values or percentage changes for total tibial BMD between OVX+CS and OVX groups throughout the study. In the proximal tibia, both absolute values and BMD percentage changes from baseline were higher in the OVX+CS group compared to the OVX group after 3 and 6 months of C. siliqua administration. Three-point bending test revealed a significantly higher thickness index in the OVX+CS group compared to the OVX group and a higher cross-sectional area index compared to the control group. Conclusion: Long-term administration of C. siliqua may be considered a non-pharmaceutical alternative treatment for postmenopausal osteoporosis. Further research is required to properly investigate the effects, and suitable treatment dose and schedule.

Automated summary

This study aimed to investigate the effect of Ceratonia siliqua on bone mineral density (BMD) as a nonpharmaceutical alternative treatment for postmenopausal osteoporosis. The results showed that long-term administration of C. siliqua significantly increased BMD compared to the control group and the ovariectomized group after 3 and 6 months of intervention. Therefore, C. siliqua may be considered a non-pharmaceutical alternative treatment for postmenopausal osteoporosis.