Evaluation of morphological and toxicological parameters in ovariectomized rats cronically treated with the medicinal plant Pterodon pubescens: evidence for the anti-osteoporotic mechanism of action

• Grant number: 18/00619-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2018
• End date: October 14, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Morphology - Histology
• Principal Investigator: Wagner José Fávaro
• Grantee: Júlia Constantino Camilli
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This present project represents a continuation with the deepening of the scientific study of Pterodon pubescens carried out throughout this year in the project "FAPESP - process: 2016/17872-9", given the excellent results achieved and the unprecedented aspects associated with them. Therefore, in this new stage of the study, it is proposed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of the ethanolic extract of Pterodon pubescens (EEPp) on osteoporotic bone to confirm possible toxic effects resulting from chronic treatment with the highest dose (EEPp 100 mg/kg) used in the previous study, as well as to investigate the possible adjacent mechanism involved in the antiosteoporotic effect of the plant. For this, morphological aspects will be investigated through high resolution microtomography images and histology of the femurs using specific stains for bone tissue (Schmorl and von Kossa methods). In addition, toxicological parameters will be evaluated through biochemical analysis of markers of liver and renal damage, as well as histopathology of some vital organs using routine histological techniques with Hematoxylin-Eosin (HE) staining. Furthermore, the RANK/RANKL/OPG system will be analyzed by immunohistochemistry to monitor the bone remodeling process. Thus, it is expected to add new scientific evidence, mimicking in animals what is already observed empirically in humans, confirming scientifically the possible beneficial effects of Pterodon pubescens for the treatment of osteoporosis.