This study examined the efficacy of hydroalcoholic extract of dried clove buds, which is rich in phenolic compounds namely
eugenol and
eugenol derivatives (precursors of
flavones,
isoflavones and
flavonoids), on different primary and secondary osteoporotic marker changes in an ovariectomised (OVX) rat model of
osteoporosis. Female Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups:
sham-operated control (A), OVX (B) and OVX plus 50% hydroalcoholic extract of dried clove buds for 4 weeks (C). Results indicated that, compared to control, serum
alkaline phosphatase (AP; 48.25%, p < 0.01), serum
tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP; 63.48%, p < 0.01), urinary
calcium (14.70%, p < 0.01), urinary
phosphate (50.30%, p < 0.01) and urinary
creatinine (122.44%, p < 0.01) were significantly altered in OVX rats. All these altered responses were significantly restored (AP: 27.53%, p < 0.01; TRAP: 33.51%, p < 0.01;
calcium: 53.15%, p < 0.01;
phosphate: 27.49%, p < 0.01;
creatinine: 46.40%, p < 0.01) by supplementation with hydroalcoholic extract of dried clove buds. Results of bone density, bone mineral content, bone tensile strength and histological analysis also showed similar trend of results, which supported initial observations of this study. It is proposed that hydroalcoholic extract of dried clove buds has bone-preserving efficacy against hypogonadal
osteoporosis.