Abstract
Capparis cartilaginea is widespread throughout different regions of Saudi Arabia. The local population commonly uses the fruit, roots and leaves of this species for the treatment of back pain, arthritis and rheumatism. This research aimed to investigate the effect of C. cartilaginea on bone mineral density (BMD), bone turnover markers (BTMs), procollagen type I propeptides (PINPs) and carboxy-terminal type I collagen cross-linking telopeptide (CTX) in osteoporosis-induced rats. C cartilaginea fruit was harvested, freeze-dried, ground and extracted using ethanol. Fifty-eight Wister rats (30 female and 28 male) were used in the experiment. Osteoporosis was induced by the ovariectomy procedure in females and introducing a high dose of vitamin A in males. The daily dose of the fruit administered to the rats was 500 mg/kg over the period of one month. PINPs, CTX and BMD in rat sera were determined by ELISA kits. The results showed a significant increase in the BMD of the treated osteoporotic groups versus the non-treated osteoporotic groups of female (P=0.008) and male rats (P=0.0001). The levels of CTX in the treated osteoporotic groups were significantly lower than those in the non-treated groups (female and male: P=0.0001, P =0.0001, respectively). The PINP levels increased significantly in the treated osteoporotic females versus the non-treated osteoporotic females (P=0.009). In conclusion, C. cartilaginea was found to have potential to reduce and treat osteoporosis. Further research is needed to identify the dose and the period needed for bone to benefit from the fruit as an an osteoporotic agent.