Abstract
BACKGROUND: It seems that some substances of plant origin may exert health-promoting activities in diabetes and its complications, including those concerning bones. Chrysin (5,7-dihydroxyflavone), present in honey, some plants, and food of plant origin, has been reported to exert, among others, antioxidative, anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of chrysin on the skeletal system of rats with experimental type 1 diabetes (T1D). METHODS: The experiments were carried out on mature male Wistar rats. T1D was induced by a single streptozotocin injection. Administration of chrysin (50 or 100 mg/kg p.o., once daily) began two weeks later and lasted four weeks. Serum bone turnover markers, bone mass, density and mineralization, mechanical properties and histomorphometric parameters of cancellous and compact bone were examined. RESULTS: T1D profoundly affected bone metabolism, leading to worsening of bone strength in comparison with the healthy controls. After administration of chrysin, slight improvement of only some parameters was demonstrated in relation to the diabetic controls. CONCLUSIONS: Results of the present study indicate that chrysin may exert some very limited favorable effects on the skeletal system in diabetic conditions.