Protective effect of albiflorin against oxidative-stress-mediated toxicity in osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells

Albiflorin isolated from Paeoniae Radix was investigated for its ability to protect against antimycin A-induced osteoblast toxicity in the MC3T3-E1 cell line. MC3T3-E1 cells showed significantly reduced viability, increased apoptosis and lactate dehydrogenase release, elevated ROS/RNS levels, and decreased mitochondrial function after exposure to antimycin A. Pretreatment with albiflorin reversed the loss of cell viability in antimycin A-treated cultures. Similarly, pretreatment with albiflorin before antimycin A resulted in decreased apoptosis and lactate dehydrogenase release, decreased ROS/RNS levels, and increased mitochondrial function compared to antimycin A-treated cultures. In addition, albiflorin increased the mineralization reduced by antimycin A. Albiflorin reduced antimycin A-induced mitochondrial cytochrome c loss and cardiolipin peroxidation, conferring protection against ROS. These results confirmed the crucial role of cytochrome c and cardiolipin in the underlying mechanistic action of albiflorin. Therefore, the results suggest that albiflorin enhances mitochondrial function to suppress antimycin A-induced oxidative damage via the preservation of cytochrome c and cardiolipin. All of these data indicate that albiflorin may reduce or prevent osteoblast degeneration in osteoporosis.