Evaluation of Osteogenic Activity of Aster pseudoglehnii, a novel Plant with Potential Efficacy in Osteoporosis in vivo and in vitro

Abstract

Osteoporosis, characterized by reduced bone density and increased fracture susceptibility, disproportionately affects especially elderly women. Still, current therapies for osteoporosis have limited to providing bone materials and agents suppressing bone loss, not bone recovery. Aster pseudoglehnii (AP), one of Korea's endemic species in Ulleungdo and a traditional herbal medicine, is known to have anti-obesity and anti-diabetic effects. However, no research has been conducted on osteoporosis. In this study, the physiological activity evaluation of AP hexane fraction was investigated in vitro and in vivo models to confirm the osteogenic effect of AP. MC3T3E1 preosteoblast cells and post-menopausal osteoporosis induced mice by ovariectomy were utilized as in vitro and in vivo model. Treatment with AP hexane fraction increased Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), RUNX Family Transcription Factor 2 (RUNX2) and Osteocalcin (OCN) in both MC3T3-E1 and ovariectomized mice, showing AP’s anti-osteoporotic property. Micro-CT studies on femurs from mice also showed that bone density and other bone indices decreased by ovariectomy were restored by AP. This study suggests the potential of AP as a new natural therapeutic agent for the treatment of osteoporosis.