Abstract
This study was aimed at proving the effects of Carthami Semen on the hormones and cytokines associated with bone metabolism in ovariectomized rats. Twenty-four female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into sham operated (normal) group, ovariectomized(control) group, ovariectomized and treated with extract of Carthami Semen(treated) group. Each group was monitored the changes of body weight at 0,3,5,7weeks after treatment, and changes of femur weight, femur/body weight, thickness of compact bone, area of cancellous bone, serum estrogen, serum calcitonin, serum parathonnone, serum tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$(TNF-${\alpha}$). serum interleukin-1${\beta}$(IL-1${\beta}$) at 7weeks after treatment. The results can be summerized as follows ; 1. The treated group showed no change in body weight compared with the control group. 2. The treated group revealed significant increases in femur weight and femur/body weight compared with the control group. 3. The treated group showed much thicker compact bone of body of femur than the control group. 4. The area of cancellous bone of distal epiphysis of femur in treated group was increased significantly compared with the control group. 5. The level of serum estrogen showed no change in the treated group compared with the control group. 6. The level of serum calcitonin showed no change in the treated group compared with the control group. 7. The level of serum parathormone was decreased in treated group significantly compared with the control group. 8. The level of serum TNF-${\alpha}$ was decreased in the treated group significantly compared with control group. 9. The level of serum IL -1${\beta}$ showed no change in the treated group compared with the control group. These results indicate that Carthami Semen inhibits bone resorption in ovariectomized rats by it's lowering effects on serum parathormone and TNF-${\alpha}$.