EFFECT OF DIETARY FLAVONOID NARINGENIN ON BONES IN RATS WITH OVARIECTOMY-INDUCED OSTEOPOROSIS.

Naringenin is a dietary flavanone which can be found in many products such as citrus fruits. This substance reveals multiple pharmacological activities such as antiinflammatory and antioxidative. During the menopause, the estrogen deficiency occurs, thus naringenin, which is also considered as a phytoestrogen, may be useful in the treatment of menopause-associated osteoporosis. The aim of the presented study was to examine the effect of naringenin on the mechanical properties, chemical composition and the histomorphological parameters of bones in the rats with ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis. The female Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups: sham-operated, ovariectomized, ovariectoiized treated with estradiol (0.2 mg/kg p.o.) and ovariectomized treated with naringenin (50 mg/kg p.o.), and the tested substances were administered for 4 weeks. The obtained results show that ovariectomy caused the characteristic changes in the skeletal system of rats - there was deterioration in mechanics, chemistry and histomorphometry. The estradiol administered to the rats served as positive control for the experiment. Administration of naringenin to the ovariectomized rats affected neither the bone chemical content nor the mechanical properties, however, there was a slight improvement in the bone microarchitecture in the tissue affected by osteoporosis. It can be concluded that the intake of naringenin in dietary products is not harmful and may even bring beneficial effect on the bones histomorphometry during postmenopausal osteoporosis.