The Effect of Nigella sativa Extract on Repair of Osteoporosis through Suppression of TRAF 6 and NFATc 1 in Ovariectomized Rat

Abstract

Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by low bone mass and structural bone damage which results bone fragility and increases the risk of fracture. Increasing life expectancy makes women more vulnerable to osteoporosis due to hypo-estrogen in menopause.  The research aimed to determine the effect of Nigella sativa extract in improving osteoporosis through suppression of Tumor Necrosis Factor receptor associated factor 6 (TRAF6) and Nuclear factor of activated T-cells cytoplasmic 1 (NFATc1) in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. This study was divided into 5 groups. There were OVX group, OVX + conjugated estrogen 20 mg / day and 3 groups treated with OVX +extract of Nigella sativa orally for 8 weeks at doses of 5, 10, and 20 mg /kg BW/day. The bone matrix thickness was stained by H&E, also number of TRAF6 and NFATc1 analyzed using flow cytometry. The results shown that the highest bone matrix thickness was obtained in the OVX + NS group 10 mg / kg BW (p=0,000), the lowest TRAF6 concentration in the OVX + group given NS 5 mg / kg BW (p= 0.001), and the concentration of NFATc1 was lowest in the OVX + CEE group (p = 0.009). The administration of Nigella sativa extract successfully improved osteoporosis through suppression of TRAF6 and NFATc1.