Effects of twin-screw extrusion ginseng on the longitudinal growth and biomechanics properties of the femur in rats

Lu Huan-jun; Xu Qing-song; Li Fan-zhu; Li Cheng-fu; Jin Yuan-zhe

doi:10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344

Abstract：BACKGROUND:The twin-screw extrusion technology can alter the chemical composition of ginseng and then produce a new type of ginseng products. <br> OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of a new ginseng product, twin-screw extrusion ginseng, on the growth and biomechanics properties of the bone in rats and to discuss the possible biochemistry mechanism. <br> METHODS: Thirty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control group, low-, middle-, and high-dose twin-screw extrusion ginseng groups, eight rats in each group. These rats were subjected to intragastric administration of ginseng suspension (0.75, 1.5, 3 g/kg) and distiled water for 3 weeks. After colecting the blood of heart, the femurs were taken to measure the length. Though the three-point bending test, the biomechanical properties such as the maximum bending stress, flexural modulus, bending energy of the femurs were measured. The concentration of osteocalcin and osteogenic growth peptide were tested. <br> RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The bone length and concentration of osteocalcin and osteogenic growth peptide of rats in the middle-dose twin-screw extrusion ginseng group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the biomechanics properties of the bone in the middle-dose twin-screw extrusion ginseng group were also better than those in the control group (P < 0.05). Experimental results show that the twin-screw extrusion ginseng can promote the growth and biomechanics properties of the bone in rats, which may be relevant to the regulation of osteocalcin and osteognic growth peptide.