Bone-protecting effect of Rubus coreanus by dual regulation of osteoblasts and osteoclasts.
OBJECTIVE
Bone loss occurs with increasing age and/or as a secondary occurrence to chronic metabolic disease. Certain nutritional and pharmacological, as well as nonpharmacologic interventions such as weight-bearing exercise and muscle strengthening help prevent bone loss. We examined the effect of the methanol extract from the fruit of Rubus coreanus (RCM) on postmenopausal osteoporosis.


METHODS
Ovariectomized rats were assigned to sham (negative control), vehicle control, positive control, safflower seed 200 mg/kg, RCM 100 mg/kg (RCM 100), RCM 200 mg/kg (RCM 200), and RCM 400 mg/kg (RCM 400) groups for 10 weeks after the operation. Serum biochemistry, histochemistry, immunohistochemistry, and other related biomarkers of bone metabolism were investigated.


RESULTS
We observed that RCM could prevent bone loss by increasing the femur trabecular bone area in a dose-dependent manner in ovariectomized rats. The mineral composition of RCM contains many more valuable elements, especially potassium, magnesium, and vitamins D and B2, than safflower seed. The effect of RCM increased not only osteoblast differentiation but also osteoclast apoptosis. In addition, the extract of RCM contained in quercetin suggests that the extract of RCM resulted in improved aging-related bone loss through an antioxidant effect.


CONCLUSIONS
The present data provide the first direct in vivo evidence that RCM has a bone-protecting effect caused by estrogen deficiency, without undesirable side effects on the uterus and other solid organs. The beneficial effect of RCM may be mediated, at least in part, by dual regulation of the enhancement of osteoblast function and induction of osteoclast apoptosis.
Do
Sun Hee
SH
Department of Clinical Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Lee
Ji-Won
JW
Jeong
Wong-Il
WI
Chung
Jae-Yong
JY
Park
Sang-Joon
SJ
Hong
Il-Hwa
IH
Jeon
Sang-Kyung
SK
Lee
In-Seon
IS
Jeong
Kyu-Shik
KS
D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001862:Bone Resorption / Q000517:prevention & control; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000473:pathology; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D010010:Osteoclasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D010052:Ovariectomy; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D027824:Rosaceae
D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D053148:Caspase 3