The effect of water clover leaf juice (Marsilea crenata) against low blood calcium levels and osteogenesis in rats (Rattus novergicus)

The aim of this research was to find natural herbal active compound from the water clover Marsilea crenata, containing phytoestrogen that has potential to boost low levels of blood calcium. In the experiment 50 adult females white rat (Rattus norvegicus), was used divided into 5 groups (10 individuals per group) and administered M. crenata juice in different concentrations, P2 (20%), P3 (40%), P4 (60%) and P5 (80%), 2 ml each daily via gastric sonde for 23 days, with P1 as a negative control. At the end of the study, levels of blood calcium were measured using atomic absorption spectrophotometry (SSA). Osteoblast and osteocytes and bone mineral density (BMD) were assessed in the os humerus in each treatment. The results showed that M. crenata juice increased the blood Ca content among treatments (P < 0.05). Histological observations of bone tissue of the rat os humerus showed that the number of osteoblasts increased with increased bone density, especially at the 80% concentration. These results suggested that M. crenata juice could be exploited and developed as food or supplement in low blood calcium patients, especially to protect against a low level of estrogen.