The Effects of an Antiosteoporosis Herbal Formula Containing Epimedii Herba,Ligustri Lucidi Fructus and Psoraleae Fructus on Density and Structure of Rat Long Bones Under Tail‐Suspension,and its Mechanisms of Action |
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Authors: | Wing‐Sum Siu Hing‐Lok Wong Ching‐Po Lau Wai‐Ting Shum Chun‐Wai Wong Si Gao Kwok‐Pui Fung Clara Bik‐San Lau Leung‐Kim Hung Chun‐Hay Ko Ping‐Chung Leung |
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Affiliation: | 1. Institute of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, , Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong;2. State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, , Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong;3. Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, , Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong;4. Jockey Club Centre for Osteoporosis Care and Control, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, , Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong;5. School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, , Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong |
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Abstract: | An innovative anti‐osteoporosis herbal formula containing Epimedii Herba, Ligustri Lucidi Fructus and Psoraleae Fructus (ELP) has been previously shown its bone protecting effects in ovariectomized osteoporotic rats and also in post‐menopausal osteopenic women. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of ELP against bone loss during physical inactivity or weightlessness. A hindlimb unloading tail‐suspended rat model was used for studying the effects of ELP on bone mineral density (BMD) and bone micro‐architecture. For in vitro mechanistic studies, rat mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and mouse macrophage cells (RAW264.7) were used for studying the effects of ELP on osteogenic/adipogenic differentiations and osteoclastogenesis, respectively. Our data illustrated that ELP had a significant preventive effect against bone loss induced by tail‐suspension (TS) at day 28 (p < 0.01) as indicated in the reduction in BMD loss and the preservation of bone micro‐architecture. ELP could significantly promote the osteogenesis and suppress the adipogenesis (p < 0.05) in MSCs. Besides, significant inhibition of osteoclast formation (p < 0.01) was found in ELP‐treated RAW264.7 cells upon receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa‐B ligand induction. Our study presents the first scientific evidence that ELP had a significant preventive effect against bone loss induced by TS through the actions of enhancing osteogenesis, suppressing adipogenesis and osteoclastogenesis. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. |
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Keywords: | tail‐suspension disuse osteoporosis Epimedii Herba Ligustri Lucidi Fructus Psoraleae Fructus mesenchymal stem cell osteogenesis adipogenesis osteoclastogenesis |
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