Summary: | In traditional oriental medicines, <i>Commiphora myrrha</i> and its resinous exudate (i.e., myrrh) are used as herbal remedies to treat various inflammatory and metabolic disorders. Until now, <i>C. myrrha</i>-derived herbal products are considered useful source for bioactive compounds to manage numerous human diseases. This study investigated the effects of water extract of <i>C. myrrha</i> resin (WCM) and its polysaccharide (WCM-PE) on modulatory effects of osteoclast differentiation and/or ovariectomized-induced bone loss. Oral administration of WCM (200 and 500 mg/kg/day for four weeks) notably decreased trabecular bone loss and lipid accumulation in the bone marrow cavity. WCM and WCM-PE dose-dependently inhibited receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclastogenesis and suppressed RANKL-mediated overexpression of c-Fos and nuclear factor of activated T cells, cytoplasmic 1, thereby downregulating osteoclast-specific gene (Atp6v0d2, DC-STAMP and cathepsin K) expression. Thus, our results suggest that WCM and WCM-PE are promising nutraceutical candidates for the management of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.
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