Osteoporosis is a major disease in postmenopausal women. There is compelling evidence
that the special extract from Cimicifuga racemosa (L.) Nutt. (CR) BNO 1055 influences positively bone metabolism and prevents induced
osteoporosis by ovariectomy (ovx).
Aim of the study was the investigation of CR BNO 1055 extracts and their protective
effects on bone metabolism. Via liquid-liquid extraction, extracts were separated into two groups, i.e. a lipophilic rich in saponins and a hydrophilic rich in sugars and phenylpropanoids.
Preparative fractions were characterized by TLC and by HPLC-UV-ELSD and HPLC-MS. Analytical
data clearly prove the presence of triterpene glycosides in the lipophilic fraction
and the presence of carbohydrates and phenylpropanic acid derivatives in the hydrophilic
fraction.
To investigate the activity on bone metabolism of CR, ovx rats received either nutrition
containing CR, 17ß-estradiol or food without any active component. All types of food
were soy-free food. QCTs were performed at the level of the metaphysis of the tibia
and the trabecular density measured prior to the ovariectomy and at the end of the
four weeks lasting application of the extracts.
Within these four weeks the bones of the ovx rodents lost nearly half of their cancellous
density. This effect did not appear by rats fed with nutrition including 17ß-estradiol
and CR. The lipophilic fraction shows a significant high activity on bone metabolism
while the hydrophilic fraction was inactive. The qCt results demonstrate that the
prevention effect of CR BNO 1055 on bone is up to the lipophilic compounds of the
extract.
Keywords: Black Cohosh, Cimicifuga racemosa, bone metabolism
Acknowledgement:
This work was funded by the Bayerische Forschungsstiftung AZ-838–08, Germany
