Pueraria mirifica (PM) is a phytoestrogen-rich plant that was tested to establish if its phytosteroids could prevent estrogen dependent sarcopenia. The effect of PM on the estrogen levels, estrous cycle, toxicity, muscle mass, strength and endurance of extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and gastrocnemius muscles of ovariectomized rats was investigated. Adult female Wistar rats were divided into six groups: Sham-operated (SHAM); ovariectomized (OVX) fed with distilled water (PM0); OVX injected with

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... 40 µg/kg estradiol benzoate (E40); (4-6) OVX fed with ethanolic extract of PM at doses of 50 (PM50), 500 (PM500) and 1000 (PM1000) mg/kg for 90 days. After treatment with all three doses of PM, no toxicity was detected to the hematopoietic system and liver function whereas the E40 group did show toxic effects. Treatment with 50 and 500 mg/kg of PM showed no effect on uterine hypertrophy and caused no arrest of the estrous cycle whereas treatment with estrogen and 1000 mg/kg of PM treatment did. The estrogen level, the cross sectional area of the EDL and the gastrocnemius muscle fiber strength and endurance were all significantly reduced in the PM0 group compared to that of the SHAM group (p<0.05) but were significantly increased in the E40, PM50, PM500 and PM1000 compared to that of the PM0 group (p<0.05). This indicated that the estrogenic activity of PM alleviated muscle atrophy and built up muscle strength and endurance. Thus, the 50 and 500 mg/kg of PM were suitable for treating estrogen dependent sarcopenia in ovariectomized rats. ABSTRAK Pueraria mirifica (PM) adalah tumbuhan kaya fitoestrogen yang diuji untuk menentukan jika fitosteroidnya boleh menghalang sarkopenia terbergantung estrogen. Kesan PM pada tahap estrogen, kitaran estrous, ketoksikan, jisim otot, kekuatan dan ketahanan ekstensor digitorum longus (EDL) dan otot gastrocnemius tikus diovariektomi telah dikaji. Tikus Wistar betina dewasa dibahagikan kepada enam kumpulan: sham-dikawal (SHAM), ovariektomi (OVX) diberi air suling (PM0), OVX disuntik dengan 40 μg/kg estradiol benzoat (E40), OVX diberi ekstrak etanol PM pada dos 50 (PM50), 500 (PM500) dan 1000 (PM1000) mg/kg selama 90 hari. Selepas rawatan dengan ketiga-tiga dos PM, tiada ketoksikan dikesan pada sistem hematopoietik dan fungsi hati manakala kumpulan E40 menunjukkan kesan toksik. Rawatan dengan 50 dan 500 mg/kg PM tidak memberi kesan pada hipertrofi rahim dan tidak menyebabkan gangguan pada kitaran estrous berbanding rawatan dengan estrogen dan 1000 mg/kg rawatan PM yang menunjukkan kesan. Tahap estrogen, luas keratan rentas EDL dan kekuatan serta ketahanan gentian otot gastrocnemius berkurang secara signifikan dalam kumpulan PM0 berbanding dengan kumpulan SHAM (p<0.05) yang meningkat dengan ketara dalam E40, PM50, PM500 dan PM1000 berbanding dengan kumpulan PM0 (p<0.05). Ini menunjukkan bahawa aktiviti estrogenik PM mengurangkan atrofi otot dan membina kekuatan dan ketahanan otot. Oleh itu, 50 dan 500 mg/kg PM adalah sesuai untuk merawat sarcopenia bergantung estrogen kepada tikus diovariektomi.