Antioxidant enriched fraction from Pueraria tuberosa alleviates ovariectomized-induced osteoporosis in rats, and inhibits growth of breast and ovarian cancer cell lines in vitro

Abstract

Pueraria tuberosa (P. tuberosa), known as Indian Kudzu belongs to family Fabaceae and it is solicited as "Rasayana" drugs in Ayurveda. In the present study, we analyzed the efficacy an antioxidant enriched fraction (AEF) from the tuber extract of P. tuberosa against menopausal osteoporosis and breast and ovarian cancer cell lines. The AEF from P. tuberosa was identified by determining phenolic composition (total phenolic and flavonoid amount). Antioxidant property (in vitro assays) was also carried out followed by analysis of the AEF for its antiosteoporotic and anticancer potentials. Antiosteoporotic activity of AEF was investigated in ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis in rats and in vitro anticancer activity by MTT assay. Also, the GC/MS analysis of AEF was performed to determine various phytoconstituents. A docking analysis was performed to verify the interaction of bioactive molecules with estrogen receptors (ERs). Ethyl acetate fraction of the mother extract was proved as the AEF. AEF significantly improved various biomechanical and biochemical parameters in a dose dependent manner in the ovariectomized animals. AEF also controlled the increased body weight and decreased uterus weight following ovariectomy. Histopathology of femur revealed the restoration of typical bone structure and trabecular width in ovariectomized animals after AEF and raloxifene treatment. AEF also exhibited in vitro cytotoxicity in breast (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) and ovarian (SKOV-3) cancer cells. Further, genistein and daidzein exhibited a high affinity towards both estrogen receptors ( and {beta}) in docking study revealing the probable mechanism of the antiosteoporotic activity. GC/MS analysis confirmed the presence of bioactive molecules such as stigmasterol, {beta}-sitosterol, and stigmasta-3,5-dien-7-one. The observations of this study vindicate the potency of AEF from P. tuberosa in the treatment of menopausal osteoporosis and cancer.