Effect of pearl millet extract versus alendronate on mandibles and salivaryglands of rats subjected to cafeteria diet associated with corticosteroids

Many studies suggested that glucocorticoids and cafeteria diet (cd) are among the risk factors involved in osteopenia. the aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of aqueous extract of pennisetum glaucum (aepg) compared to a bisphosphonate,the alendronate (aln) on biochemical composition and histological of mandibles and parotid salivary glands of rats fed cafeteria diet associated with methylprednisolone (mps) intraperitoneal (ip) administration. thirty six 6week-old-females were divided into six groups: control group; cd group,cd-mps group [cd,mps (9 mg.kg-1 of body weight (b.w.) ip]; cd-aepg group [cd,(250 mg.kg-1 b.w per os (po)],cd-mps-aepg group [cd,mps (9 mg.kg-1b.w (ip)),aepg (250 mg.kg-1,b.w. po)]; cd-mps-aln group [cd,mps (9 mg.kg-1b.w.,ip),aln (2 mg.kg-1 b.w.,po)]. these products were administered for 5 days/week. after 6-weeks treatment period of the study,rats were weighted. mandibles and maxillary salivary glands (msg) were isolated and cleaned of all soft tissue and weighted. the mandibles were analyzed for biochemical composition,histology and ultrastructure.the salivary glands were just analyzed by histological technics. in our study,we demonstrated that aepg treatment obtains better amelioration than aln without significant decrease calcium content. we noted also an increase of manganese content. remarkably,trabecular bone appeared intact for groups treated with aepg compared to the others groups,except the group of aln where we noted real amelioration but less than aepg group. these findings suggest that the aepg could be used to prevent bone diseases and accelerate bone formation in rats feeding cafeteria diet associated with methylprednisolone.