Effect of extracts from safflower seeds on osteoblast differentiation and intracellular calcium ion concentration in MC3T3-E1 cells.
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.
Jang
Hye-Ock
HO
Department of Dental Pharmacology and Biophysics, College of Dentistry and Research Institute for Oral Biotechnology, Pusan National University, Busan, Korea.
Park
Young-Sik
YS
Lee
Jong-Hwa
JH
Seo
Jun-Bong
JB
Koo
Kyo-Il
KI
Jeong
Soo-Cheol
SC
Jin
Seong-Deok
SD
Lee
Young-Ho
YH
Eom
Hyun-Sup
HS
Yun
Il
I
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
D010936:Plant Extracts; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D002118:Calcium