Cissus quadrangularis is an herb often used as an osteoprotective agent in Ayurvedic medicine.

Potu and colleagues conducted a study to confirm the anti-osteoporotic activity of the petroleum ether extract of C. quadrangularis on ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis in experimental models.

The models were segregated into five groups - Normal control (NC) group receiving no surgery and no treatment; Sham control group undergoing sham surgery but no treatment; Ovariectomized group that received an ovariectomy and normal saline treatment for 90 days; Ovariectomized+raloxifene group that was given an ovariectomy and treatment with raloxifene for 90 days starting from 22nd post ovariectomy day; Ovariectomy+C. quadrangularis group that received an ovariectomy and treatment with petroleum ether extract of C. quadrangularis for 90 days starting from 22nd post ovariectomy day. Following treatment period, biomechanical analysis was done using the right femur, and the left femur was used for histomorphometrical analysis.

C. quadrangularis was shown to result in a considerable increase in the force required to break the femur. The extract also increased the thickness of both cortical and trabecular bone. The action of C. quadrangularis was comparable to that of raloxifene.

In conclusion, petroleum ether extract of C. quadrangualris was shown to exert anti-osteoporotic effects in experimental models.

Reference

1. Potu BK, Rao MS, Nampurath GK, et al.Anti-osteoporotic activity of the petroleum ether extract of Cissus quadrangularis Linn. in ovariectomized Wistar rats.Chang Gung Med J. 2010 May-Jun;33(3):252-7.