Osteogenic stimulatory effect of heraclenin purified from bael in mouse mesenchymal stem cells in vitro

Osteoporosis is a major health concern occurring to the aging adult population across the globe. Currently, there is an increasing demand for treatment of osteoporosis with plant-based medicines. In the present study, we report that heraclenin was extracted and purified from unripe fruit portion of Bael (Aegle marmelos Corr.) using silica gel column chromatography. The identification and characterization of heraclenin were carried out by UV-Vis, HPLC, LC-MS, NMR, FT-IR, and XRD analyses. The standardized purification method recorded a yield efficiency of 42% heraclenin microcrystals with 99% purity from bael fruit. SEM image revealed the shape of the purified compound to be an orthorhombic-sphenoid prism. Cytotoxicity studies indicated that heraclenin-treatment did not alter cell viability in mouse mesenchymal stem cells (mMSCs, C3H10T1/2). The mRNA expression of Runx2, a bone transcription factor was found to be stimulated by heraclenin in these cells. At the cellular level, heraclenin-treatment enhanced osteoblast differentiation and mineralization in mMSCs. Thus, these results suggested that heraclenin purified from bael fruit has an osteogenic effect, indicating its potential towards bone regeneration.