PREVENTIVE EFFECTS OF Origanum vulgare AQUEOUS EXTRACT ON THE

SEVERITY OF GLUCOCORTICOID-INDUCED OSTEOPOROSIS IN MALE MICE

Parale, I. M., Pascual, A. B. B., Salmasan, I. J. V., Serra, M. L. C., and Rimando, M. G.

Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, University of Santo Tomas,

Manila 1015

ABSTRACT

Secondary osteoporosis develops upon prolonged exposure to glucocorticoids (GC).

This condition is characterized by a reduction in bone mass and an increase in bone

porosity leading to susceptibility to fracture. To investigate the effect of Origanum vul-

gare (oregano) aqueous extract (OE) in reducing the severity of secondary osteoporo-

sis, a glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIO) mouse model was established. Thirty

male albino mice (Mus musculus) were divided into groups consisting of prednisone-in-

duced osteoporotic mice administered with increasing concentrations of the Origanum

aqueous extract at 200mg/kg, 400mg/kg and 600mg/kg, aldendronate as a positive con-

trol and a negative control. Femoral bones were sectioned and imaged by scanning

electron microscope (SEM ) and skulls were stained with Alizarin Red. Results from

SEM showed a significant difference between the total hollow area (THA) to total bone

area (TBA) ratio as well as intensity of alizarin stain between groups. Based on both

qualitative and quantitative analysis, the highest concentration of O. vulgare aqueous

extract (600 mg/kg)has shown positive reduction of bone porosity and enhanced min-

eralization in GIO-induced mice. These results demonstrate that Origanum vulgare has

the potential to prevent the severity of osteoporosis during continuous exposure to glu-

cocorticoids.

Keywords: Glucocorticoids, osteoporosis, bisphosphonates, SEM, alizarin red staining