<em>µCT</em> analysis reveals that <em>Cissus quadrangularis</em> L. stem and <em>Trigonella foenum-graecum</em> L. seed extracts prevent diabetic osteopathy

Abstract

<em>Cissus quadrangularis</em> L. (<em>hadjod</em>) and <em>Trigonella foenum-graecum</em> L. (fenugreek) plant parts are used for fracture healing and as an antidiabetic agent, respectively in traditional medicine. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of <em>C. quadrangularis</em> stem bark extract (<em>CQ</em>) and <em>T. foenum-graecum</em> seed extract (<em>TFG</em>) therapy for the treatment of type I diabetes induced osteopenia. Alloxan (dissolved in 0.1 M citrate buffer (<em>p</em>H = 4.5); intraperitoneally injected @ 130 mg/kg body weight) induced type I diabetic rats were treated with individual and combined doses of ethanol extracts of <em>CQ</em> and <em>TFG</em> for consecutive 30 days @ 250 and 500 mg per kg body weight, orally. Insulin (0.5 IU/kg body weight) was chosen as standard. Body weight and fasting blood glucose were recorded. Two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) analysis of the femur and tibia were performed using micro-computed tomography (<em>µCT</em>) scan to measure histomorphometric parameters of trabecular and cortical regions and bone mineral density (BMD). Elevated level of fasting blood glucose was restored to the vehicle-treated group after treatment with <em>CQ</em> and <em>TFG</em>. Both the extracts significantly improved trabecular histomorphometric parameters, viz. BMD, percent bone volume, trabecular number, trabecular separation, connection density. Cortical mean total cross-sectional bone area, cross-sectional thickness, mean total cross-sectional tissue area were comparable to the vehicle-treated group. <em>CQ</em> and <em>TFG</em> combination therapy showed a marked improvement in bone microarchitecture and can be given together as a potential alternative medicine to insulin for prevention of type I diabetes induced osteopathy. Therefore, it can be considered in the management of diabetic osteopathy in humans.