本研究之主要目的為探討台農二號山藥 (Dioscorea alata L. cv. Tainung No.2)乙酸乙酯萃取物對去卵巢雌鼠骨質疏鬆之預防作用。Balb/c雌鼠8週齡大時,進行偽手術 (sham) 或卵巢去除手術 (OVX)。手術後第3天起開始餵飼實驗飼料,OVX鼠隨機分置於OVX組、山藥抽出物 (yam extract; 2 mg/g diet) 組、金雀異黃酮 (genistein; 200 g/g diet) 組及E2 (2 g 17β-estradiol/g diet) 組。飼料主要參考AIN-93G配方,但是油改採用玉米油,以避免大豆油中含有大豆異黃酮,實驗為期12週皆採自由飲水及攝食。在第12週時入代謝籠以進行鈣代謝試驗,經2天適應期後,在犧牲前5天連續收集糞便及尿液,其後斷頭犧牲老鼠,採集血液、股骨及腰椎骨以進行後續分析。結果顯示每日平均增重及飼料利用率中,OVX、yam extract及genistein組均顯著高於sham組。E2組之腰椎骨、股骨骨質密度及血鈣濃度皆與sham組相似。Yam extract及genistein組之腰椎骨、股骨骨質密度及血鈣濃度皆與sham組相似,且顯著高於OVX組。在腰椎骨與股骨乾重、灰份重及骨鈣含量,yam extract組則介於sham及OVX組之間。因此,yam extract具有部分延緩腰椎骨和股骨骨質流失的作用。 短期代謝試驗結果顯示,平均每日鈣攝入量的部份,sham及E2組最高,其次是yam extract及genistein,OVX組顯著低於各組;糞便鈣的部份,sham、yam extract及E2組相似,OVX及genistein組顯著低於sham組。而在尿鈣、尿鈣/鈣攝入比值、鈣平衡、鈣表面吸收率及鈣保留率的部分,各組間則無顯著差異。 在腸道生理方面,糞便重方面,sham、yam extract、genistein及E2組相似,OVX組顯著低於各組,糞便含水率方面各組間則無顯著差異。而糞便短鏈脂肪酸濃度及pH值在各組間也無顯著差異 因此本研究建議台農二號山藥乙酸乙酯萃取物能維持停經後骨質密度。
This study was to investigate effects of ethyl-acetate extract of Dioscorea alata L. cv. Tainung No. 2 on lumbar and femur bone density in ovariectomized (OVX) female Balb/c mice. Mice were sham- or OVX-operated at 8-weeked and were fed experimental diets after 3 days of operation. Sham mice were then fed control diet (AIN-93G with corn oil) while OVX mice were randomly allocated into OVX (control diet), yam extract (2 mg/g diet), genistein (200 μg/g diet) or E2 (2 μg 17β-estradiol/g diet) group. Mice were placed into metabolic cages in order to measure apparent calcium absorption. After 12 wk of feed, mice were decapitalized to collect blood, femur, and lumbar bones. Weight gain and feed efficiency of OVX, yam extract and genistein groups were increased as compared to sham group. Supplement with E2 completely restored the mineral density (g/cm2) of lumbar and femur bones, respectively, to the level of sham group. The mineral density of either lumbar bone or the femur and serum calcium concentration of yam extract and genistein groups were similar to sham group and increased significantly as compared to OVX group. However, dry weight, calcium content and ash content of either lumbar bone or femur of yam extract group only tended to increase as compared to the OVX group. Daily urinary calcium excretion, calcium balance, apparent absorption of calcium and calcium retention were no significantly different between groups, respectively. Finally, the fecal moisture, pH value and short chain fatty acid concentrations were similar between groups. In conclusion, ethyl-acetate extract of Tainung No. 2 yam contains phytoestrogenic components that are likely to maintain the bone density in postmenopausal women.