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Cistanche deserticola extract increases bone formation in osteoblasts
Te-Mao Li1, Hsin-Chih Huang, Chen-Ming Su
1School of Chinese Medicine Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan.
Objectives:
We investigated the effect of Cistanche deserticola Ma. (CD) on bone formation by cultured osteoblasts.
Methods:
The mineralized nodule formation assay was used to examine the in-vitro effects of CD on bone formation. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP)-2 and osteopontin (OPN) mRNA expression was analysed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The mechanism of action of CD extract was investigated using Western blotting. The in-vivo anti-osteoporotic effect of CD extract was assessed in ovariectomized mice.
Key Findings:
CD extract had no effect on the proliferation, migration or wound healing of cultured osteoblasts, but increased ALP, BMP-2 and OPN mRNA and bone mineralization. Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) or nuclear factor (NF)-κB inhibitors reduced CD extract-induced bone formation and ALP, BMP-2 and OPN expression. However, CD extract did not affect osteoclastogenesis. In addition, CD extract prevented the bone loss induced by ovariectomy in vivo.
Conclusions:
CD may be a novel bone formation agent for the treatment of osteoporosis.
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