Osteogenic activity of novel edible plants in vitro and in vivo under post-menopausal osteoporosis

Abstract

Osteoporosis is a bone disorder with low bone density and high risk of bone fracture. Its incidence ranges from one in 2 women after age 50. Osteoporosis is caused by an imbalance in the bone remodeling between bone formation and destruction. In the present study, we screened extracts of various edible plants having osteogenic activity to find a novel candidates for osteoporosis by mesuring the ALP (alkaline phosphatase) activity in MC3T3-E1 preosteoblasts. Extracts of 101 species of plants were prepared and utilized for screening. Among them, 3 extracts elevated ALP activity significantly. Those activities were confirmed by Western blot elevated the level of osteoblastic markers RUNX2 and Osterix. Ovariectomized mouse model was utilized for postmenopausal osteoporosis and ostegenic activity of selected extracts was estimated in these mice. We confirmed changes in bone mineral density and various bone parameters 14 weeks after ovariectomy through micro-CT. As the results, ovariectomy significantly reduced bone mineral density and other bone parameters. The orally treated 3 selected plant extracts showed a significant recovery of this bone parameter.