Efficacy of bisacurone in bone fracture healing process: An experimental study on osteoporotic rats

Background: Osteoporosis (OP) is a common disorder resulting in bone fragility and fracture. Due to OP, bone mass and microarchitectural bone tissues are damaged, increasing the risk of fracture. Objectives: To determine the efficacy of bisacurone in healing fractured bones and its inflammatory response in ovariectomy (OVX)-induced OP in female rats. Materials and Methods: After inducing fracture in femur bone, bisacurone (25, 50, and 100 μg/kg) and alendronate (20 mg/kg) were orally administered to rats for 8 weeks. Subsequently, its fracture healing and anti-inflammatory potential were evaluated via assessment of various biochemical and molecular parameters. Results: Bisacurone therapy significantly (P < 0.05) increased the calcium content, serum calcium, and phosphorus in OVX-induced OP rats. It significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the serum alkaline phosphate (ALP); urine biochemical parameters such as urinary calcium, phosphorus, and creatinine; and inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α). Moreover, bisacurone was found to be significantly (P < 0.05) effective in downregulating the bone turnover markers such as osteocalcin, receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa-γ ligand (RANKL), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ), and upregulating osteoprotegerin (OPG), runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in OVX-induced OP rats. Conclusion: Bisacurone effectively healed the fracture and improved the bone quality in arthritic conditions by reducing inflammatory cytokines and altering the level of bone turnover markers. Therefore, bisacurone therapy should be considered for the management of fracture healing process in the arthritic conditions.