title: Biochanin A stimulates osteoblastic differentiation and inhibits hydrogen peroxide-induced production of inflammatory mediators in MC3T3-E1 cells.
abstract: Phytoestrogens are plant chemicals that are structurally analogous to estrogen and are known to affect estrogenic activity. Biochanin A, a naturally occurring isoflavone, has been identified and detected in various diets and plant species. We examined the effects of biochanin A on the differentiation of osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells and the production of local factors in osteoblasts. Biochanin A (1-50 microM) caused a significant elevation of cell growth, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, collagen content, and osteocalcin secretion in osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells (p<0.05). The effect of biochanin A (10 microM) in increasing ALP activity and collagen content was completely prevented by the presence of 10(-6) M cycloheximide and 10(-6) M tamoxifen, suggesting that biochanin A's effect results from a newly synthesized protein component and might be partly involved in estrogen action. We then examined the effect of biochanin A on the H2O2-induced production of inflammatory mediators in osteoblasts. Biochanin A (1-10 microM) decreased the 0.2 mM H2O2-induced production of TNF-alpha, IL-6 and NO in osteoblasts. These results suggest that biochanin A may be useful as potential phytoestrogens, which play important physiological roles in the prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Service Management, College of Hotel and Tourism Management, Kyung Hee University; Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung-Hee
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Eun-Mi
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D019833:Genistein / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D019833:Genistein; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; C004541:biochanin A