effect of fennel consumption on femoral bone morphology in F۱ male mice offspring

Objective: Foeniculum vulgare (fennel) is traditionally suggested for the osteoporosis improvement in Iranian lore due to its phytoestrogen compound. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of fennel seed and its hydroalcoholic on bone morphology of the femur in the first generation mouse pups. Methods: ۲۰ pregnant mice were randomly divided into five groups: extract-treated groups received ۵۰۰ and ۱۰۰۰ mg/kg/day fennel extract (FE), seed-treated groups received ۵۰۰ and ۱۰۰۰ mg/kg/day fennel seed (FS), and the control group (CTL) received no treatment. The treatments started from pregnancy day ۱ and continued until PND ۵۶. Body weight and femur of the male pups were measured using a digital scale and the length and diameter of the femur were calipered. Results: Daily consumption of hydroalcoholic extract (۵۰۰ and ۱۰۰۰) and seed (۵۰۰ and ۱۰۰۰) of fennel caused a significant increase in body weight of male offspring compared to the control group (P = ۰.۰۲۶, P = ۰.۰۰۰۱, P= ۰.۰۴۶, P= ۰.۰۰۱). Also, femur weight in control group showed a significant decrease compared to the FS۱۰۰۰ and FE۵۰۰groups (P= ۰.۰۰۱, P= ۰.۰۰۵). Diameter/length femur increased in the fennel (extract and seed) groups compared to the control group. The femur length was highest in the FS۱۰۰۰ group. Conclusion: Fennel extract and seed administration in pregnancy and lactation period have positively altered the bone morphology of the femur. The dose of ۱۰۰۰ mg/ kg fennel seed the highest ameliorating capacity in F۱ female mice.

Keywords:

Fennel , osteoporosis , body weight , Diameter femur , length femur.