Abstract
The effect of Sargassum horneri on bone components in the femoral-diaphyseal and -metaphyseal tissues of young and aged rats was investigated. Rats were orally administered a water-solubilized extract (2.5, 5, and 10 mg/100 g body weight) of S. horneri once a day for 7 or 14 days. Calcium content, alkaline phosphatase activity and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) content in the femoral-diaphyseal and -metaphyseal tissues of young male (4 weeks old) rats was significantly increased by the administration of S. horneri extract (2.5, 5, and 10 mg/100 g) for 7 days. Moreover, these bone components in the femoral-diaphyseal and -metaphyseal tissues of aged female (50 weeks old) rats were significantly increased by the administration of S. horneri extract (10 mg/100 g) for 14 days. Meanwhile, body weight and serum calcium, zinc and inorganic phosphorus concentrations of female aged rats were not significantly altered by the administration of S. horneri extract (10 mg/ 100 g) for 14 days. The present study demonstrates that the oral intake of the water-solubilized extract of S. horneri can exhibit an anabolic effect on bone components of young rats in vivo, and that this effect is also seen in aged rats. The intake of S. horneri extract may have a preventive effect on bone loss with increasing age.
