An Evidence-Based Review: The Effects of Malaysian Traditional Herbs on Osteoporotic Rat Models

Abstract

Osteoporosis is considered a silent disease, the early symptoms of which often go unrecognised. Osteoporosis causes bone loss, reduces mineralised density, and inevitably leads to bone fracture. Hormonal deficiencies due to aging or drug induction are also frequently attributed to osteoporosis. Nevertheless, the phytochemical content of natural plants has been proven to significantly reduce osteoporotic conditions. A systematic review was conducted by this study to identify research specifically on the effects of Malaysian herbs such as Piper sarmentosum, Eurycoma longifolia and Labisia pumila on osteoporotic bone changes. This review consisted of a comprehensive search of five databases for the effects of specific herbs on osteoporotic bone change. These databases were Web of Science (WOS), Medline, Scopus, ScienceDirect and PubMed. The articles were selected throughout the years, were limited to the English language and fully documented. Duplication, irrelevant titles, different herbs and in vitro studies were excluded, including those that are not original research papers. A total of 399 potential studies were identified, but only 21 samples were accepted based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Six of the twenty one studies were on Piper sarmentosum, six on Eurycoma longifolia, and the remaining nine studies were on Labisia pumila. Overall, in three of the studies a glucocorticoid-induced model was used, while in 12 of the studies an ovariectomised model was used, and for the other six studies an orchidectomised model was used as the osteoporotic model. All of the studies reported varied results based on the type of herbs used, but in comparison to Eurycoma longifolia, Piper sarmentosum and Labisia pumila recorded better anti-osteoporotic effects, while the majority of studies on Eurycoma longifolia were unable to preserve bone strength.

Herbal-Based Formulation Containing Eurycoma longifolia and Labisia pumila Aqueous Extracts: Safe for Consumption?

“…Improvements in male sexual health is evidenced by improvements in seminal and fertility parameters, as well as increased testosterone levels in in vivo models and clinical trials, largely attributed to its quassinoid content [ 45 , 46 , 47 ]. The phytoestrogenic potency of kacip fatimah shown by the suppression of proinflammatory cytokines (responsible for osteoporosis) combined with its high scavenging properties (for reducing oxidative stress), regulating hormonal changes and providing relief of post-menopausal symptoms [ 30 , 48 ]. Although there is no knowledge of both herbs used in combination traditionally, the use of these two herbs in combination is of scientific interest as they show potential health benefits in different organ systems.…”

Social Determinants of Health: Cultural Competence is Not Enough

“…Chronic stress can also lead to atherosclerosis, especially when combined with high-fat diets and sedentary lifestyles. The correlation between stressful life events and psychiatric illnesses is even stronger than the correlation with physical illness (Mohd, 2008).…”

“…People who are members of ethnic/racial minorities and who are poor tend to experience chronic physical and psychological stress (Mohd, 2008). Nuru-Jeter et al in 2009 found the stress of racism related to adverse birth outcomes (APA, 2015), and in 2015, Peek et al identified racism as playing a role in unhealthy behaviors such as smoking, alcohol and substance abuse, improper nutrition, and refusal to seek medical services (APA, 2015).…”

“…A discussion of SDH and health disparities would be incomplete without expanding the implications of stress and poverty. The relationship between life events, long-term or persistent stress, environmental stress, discrimination, and illness are broadly documented (American Psychological Association [APA], 2015; Mohd, 2008). Chronic stress has a significant impact on the immune system, which can ultimately manifest as illness.…”

Traditional Chinese medicine in osteoporosis: from pathogenesis to potential activity

“…According to the pathology and clinical manifestations of OP in modern medicine, OP in TCM can be classified into the scope of “ostealgia (Gu bi)” and “atrophic debility of bones (Gu wei)” according to “Nei jing.” Among them, kidney deficiency, blood stasis, and qi and yin deficiency are the main pathogenesis, and the disease location is bone. The nature is “deficiency of kidney essence, spleen deficiency, and nourishment loss,” whose features are blood stasis block ( Mohammad et al, 2018 ). For the treatment of this disease, some TCM preparations, acupoint application, acupuncture, massage, and other TCM therapies are also applied to improve BMD.…”