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The beneficial effect of Radix Dipsaci total saponins on bone metabolism in vitro and in vivo and the possible mechanisms of action

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Abstract

Summary

The purpose of this study is to investigate the anti-osteoporotic effects of Radix Dipsaci total saponins (RTS). We showed that RTS was able to improve bone properties by either an increase of osteoblastic activity or a decrease in osteoclastic activity.

Introduction

Radix Dipsaci has long been used as an anti-osteoporotic drug. The present study investigates the anti-osteoporotic effects of RTS.

Methods

Three-month-old female rats were randomly assigned into a sham-operated group (sham) and five ovariectomy (OVX) subgroups, namely, OVX with vehicle (OVX), OVX with 17β-ethinylestradiol (E2), and OVX with graded doses of RTS (50, 100, or 200 mg/kg/d). RTS and E2 were administered orally, daily from 1 week after OVX treatment for 4 months. Bone mass, turnover, and strength were evaluated by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, biochemical markers, and the three-point bending test. The trabecular bone microarchitecture was assessed by microCT. In vitro experiments were performed to determine the potential molecular mechanisms of the anti-osteoporotic effect of RTS.

Results

RTS prevented the loss of bone mass induced by OVX. The preventive effect on bone loss was primarily indicated by decreasing levels of bone turnover markers and confirmed by the changes in urinary calcium and phosphorus excretion. The treatment also enhanced the biomechanical strength of bone and prevented the deterioration of trabecular bone microarchitecture. RTS induced MC3T3-E1 and primary osteoblastic cell maturation and differentiation and increased bone formation by increasing BMP-2 synthesis. In addition, RTS inhibited osteoclastogenesis through an increase in osteoprotegrin and a decrease in NF–kB ligand expression in vitro.

Conclusions

RTS treatment can effectively suppress the loss of bone mass induced by OVX and in vitro evidence suggests this could be through actions on both osteoblasts and osteoclasts.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Dr. ZhenGuo Liu for providing the support in carrying out this study. This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant no. 81073037) and the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation funded project (grant no. 2011M501482).

Conflict of interest

All authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, 710072, People’s Republic of China

    Y. B. Niu, X. H. Kong & Q. B. Mei

  2. Department of Pharmacy, No. 422 Hospital of PLA, Zhanjiang, 524005, People’s Republic of China

    Y. H. Li

  3. Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, 710032, People’s Republic of China

    R. Zhang, Y. Sun, Q. Li, C. Li, L. Liu & Q. B. Mei

  4. Department of Orthopedics, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, 710032, People’s Republic of China

    J. Wang

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  1. Y. B. Niu
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  4. R. Zhang
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Correspondence to Q. B. Mei.

Additional information

Yin Bo Niu and Yu Hua Li equally contributed to this work.

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Niu, Y.B., Li, Y.H., Kong, X.H. et al. The beneficial effect of Radix Dipsaci total saponins on bone metabolism in vitro and in vivo and the possible mechanisms of action. Osteoporos Int 23, 2649–2660 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-012-1932-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-012-1932-y

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