title: Effect of extracts from safflower seeds on osteoblast differentiation and intracellular calcium ion concentration in MC3T3-E1 cells.
abstract: Although safflower seeds have long been used in Korea as herbal medicines, very little research has been published on the effects of safflower seed on bone formation or bone density. The study reported here therefore examined bone nodule formation, calcium uptake, alkaline phosphatase activity, and intracellular concentration of calcium ion [Ca(2+)](i) in murine osteoblastic cells of the MC3T3-E1 line that were cultured on modified Eagle's minimal essential medium alone (controls) or with addition of 0.1% crude extract of safflower seed (experimental group I) or 0.1% aqueous fraction of safflower seed (experimental group II). Fluorescence spectrometry measurement of ([Ca(2+)](i)) showed significantly accelerated rates of osteoblast differentiation in experimental group I (3 microL of crude extract in 8 x 10(4) cells) and experimental group II (2 microL of aqueous fraction in 8 x 10(4) cells) compared to the control group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Pharmacology and Biophysics, College of Dentistry and Research Institute for Oral Biotechnology, Pusan National University, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Hye-Ock
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Young-Sik
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Jong-Hwa
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jun-Bong
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.forename: Kyo-Il
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Koo
authors.forename: Soo-Cheol
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Seong-Deok
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Young-Ho
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hyun-Sup
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Eom
authors.forename: Il
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Yun
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D031187:Carthamus tinctorius; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012639:Seeds
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D002118:Calcium