In vivo anti-osteoporotic activity of isotaxiresinol, a lignan from wood of Taxus yunnanensis

Isotaxiresinol, the main lignan isolated from the water extract of wood of Taxus yunnanensis, was investigated for its effect on bone loss, on serum biochemical markers for bone remodeling and on uterine tissue, using ovariectomized (OVX) rats as the model of postmenopausal osteoporosis. After oral administration of isotaxiresinol (50 and 100 mg/kg/d) for 6 weeks, bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) in total and cortical bones were increased as compared to those of OVX control rats, and decreases of three bone strength indexes induced by OVX surgery were prevented. Serum biochemical markers for bone remodeling revealed that isotaxiresinol slightly increased bone formation and significantly inhibited bone resorption without side effect on uterine tissue. These results suggest that isotaxiresinol may be useful for treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis, especially for prevention of bone fracture induced by estrogen deficiency.