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Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Cassia occidentalis L., a synonym of Senna occidentalis (belongs to Caesalpiniaceae family) is an annual plant. Pursuing a lead from a folk practice prevalent since the late nineteenth century in Andhra Pradesh, a Southern state of India, of use of Cassia occidentalis leaf and stem for treating patients with fracture and bone diseases, we have not only confirmed its fracture healing activity but also demonstrated efficacy in preventing glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIO), the commonest form of medication-induced bone loss caused chiefly due to impairment of bone formation., Aim of the Study: In the present work, the effects of extract and fraction of leaf and stem of Cassia occidentalis was investigated in fracture healing and GIO models of rat. The study also aimed to identify osteogenic compounds from this plant., Materials and Methods: Ethanolic extracts from leaf and stem of Cassia occidentalis were prepared and their efficacy tested in rat femur osteotomy (fracture healing) model. Subsequently, a butanolic fraction was prepared and osteogenic efficacy compared with the ethanolic extract, and upon finding the former to be more potent, its osteogenic effect was studied in details in GIO model. Chemical finger-printing and isolation of ten pure compounds were done to assess their osteogenic effect in rat primary osteoblast cultures., Results: Ethanolic extract of stem was more effective than the leaf extract in enhancing bone regeneration at the site of osteotomy. Further, butanolic fraction of the ethanolic extract of stem was more effective than the later in bone regeneration at the femur osteotomy site and in preventing bone loss in GIO model. The mechanism of skeletal preservation involved stimulation of new bone formation and inhibition of bone resorption. As many as six osteogenic compounds were isolated out of which apigenin-6C-glucopyranoside was most effective in vitro., Conclusion: Our study found that a standardized extract of an ethanolic extract and its butanolic fraction from the stem of Cassia occidentalis has osteogenic as well as anti-resorptive effects, resulting in the protection against glucocorticoid-induced bone loss. Our results contribute towards validation of the traditional use of Cassia occidentalis in fracture healing and also suggest its beneficial use in GIO for which clinical trials are warranted., (Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Pholidota articulata Lindley (PA) locally known as Hadjojen (bone jointer) belongs to family Orchidaceae is used for healing fractures in folklore tradition of Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, Himalaya, India. Bone is a dynamic organ and is constantly being remodeled in order to facilitate growth and repair. This process requires the involvement of bone forming osteoblast and bone resorbing osteoclast cells, which function in generating and mineralizing bone, giving strength and rigidity to the skeletal system. Present study was aimed to determine the therapeutic potential of ethanolic extract of PA and its isolated compound oxoflavidin, by characterizing their fracture healing properties., Materials and Methods: Ovariectomized (Ovx) estrogen deficient adult female Balb/c mice were used for in vivo evaluation of osteogenic or bone healing potential of ethanolic extract of PA. Further, its isolated compounds were tested for their osteogenic efficacy using alkaline phosphatase assay and mineralization assay in vitro in mice calvarial osteoblasts., Results: The ethanolic extract of PA exhibited significant restoration of trabecular micro-architecture in both femoral and tibial bones. Additionally, treatment with PA extract led to better bone quality and devoid of any uterine estrogenicity in ovariectomized estrogen deficient mice. One of the isolated compound, oxoflavidin enhanced ALP activity (a marker of osteoblast differentiation), mineral nodule formation and mRNA levels of osteogenic markers like BMP-2, Type 1 Collagen, RUNX-2 and osteocalcin., Conclusion: These results warrant that ethanolic extract of PA and it's pure compound oxoflavidin have fracture healing properties. The extract and oxoflavidin exhibit a strong threapeutical potential for the treatment and management of postmenopausal osteoporosis., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)