Figure 2.

Effect of L. sativum on OVX-induced bone matrix and histological alterations using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), Masson trichrome, and alizarin red stains. (A) Control group showing average periosteum (black arrow), average cortex with regular dense lamellae (blue arrows), small osteocytes (yellow arrow) (H&E), cortex with parallel regular collagen fibers (black arrow) (Masson trichrome), cortex reactive for alizarin red with regular lamellae with parallel small osteocytes (black arrow) (alizarin red). (B) Ovariectomized untreated animals showing thin eroded bony trabeculae (black arrow) with large osteocytes (blue arrow) and osteoblastic rimming (red arrow) (H&E), irregular arrangement of collagen fibers in cortex (black arrow) (Masson trichrome), non-reactive cortex for alizarin red showing irregular lamellae (black arrow) (alizarin red). (C) Ovariectomized rats treated with 50 mg/kg L. sativum extract demonstrating bony trabeculae with irregular dense lamellae (black arrow), large osteocytes in large lacunae (blue arrow), and osteoblastic rimming (red arrow) (H&E), regular arrangement of collagen fibers in trabeculae (yellow arrow) (Masson trichrome) and cortex less-reactive for stain (black arrow) (alizarin red). (D) Ovariectomized rats treated with 100 mg/kg L. sativum extract illustrating bony trabeculae (black arrow), large osteocytes in large lacunae (blue arrow) (H&E), irregular arrangement of dense collagen fibers (yellow arrow) (Masson trichrome), and some reactivity for alizarin (black arrow) (alizarin red). (E) Estradiol-treated group displaying average trabeculae with dense lamella (black arrow) small osteocytes in small lacuna (blue arrow) (H&E), irregular arrangement of collagen fibers in cortex (yellow arrow) (Masson trichrome), and frequent parallel small osteocytes reactive to alizarin red (black arrow) (alizarin red). (F) Table displaying the lesion scores for the different treatment groups. Nil, -; Mild, +; Moderate, ++; Severe +++.