title: Sanguis Draconis resin stimulates osteoblast alkaline phosphatase activity and mineralization in MC3T3-E1 cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sanguis Draconis (SD), "Dragon's Blood", is a resin that is obtained from Daemonorops draco (Palmae). Used in traditional medicine, it has shown activity in the prevention of osteoporosis as well as promoting the healing of bone fractures.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, the effects of Sanguis Dranonis ethanol extract on β-glycerolphosphate and ascorbic acid induced differentiation using mouse calvaria origin MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells was examined. We looked at osteoblast differentiation, proliferation, and mineralization by measuring alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and specific bone marker activities. Osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells were cultured in various concentrations of SD ethanol extract (0.005-1mg/mL) during the osteoblast differentiation period (1, 5, 15, and 25 days).
  
  
  RESULTS
  As measured by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-y]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, SD extracts increased cell proliferation as compared to control. The most pronounced effect was observed at the concentration range between 0.01 and 0.1 mg/mL (P<0.01). This SD stimulatory effect for cell proliferation was observed during the whole osteogenic period. Cellular (synthesized) ALP activity was increased during 15 days of culture, and was confirmed by the staining of ALP activity on cell matrix layers for matrix calcification. SD stimulatory effect for cell mineralization we observed in 14 and 21 days. Elevated mRNA or protein levels of bone morphogenetic protein-2(BMP 2), the differentiation marker osteocalcin, osteopontin, collgen I, and a master osteogenic transcription factor, Runx2, were observed in SD-treated cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that SD may increase osteogenic effect by stimulating cell ALP activity and affect the BMP signaling pathway cascades in osteoblastic cells, then promotes osteoblast differentiation, mineralization, and bone formation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710004, PR China. wangweizhuo@mail.xjtu.edu.cn
authors.forename: Weizhuo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Olson
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Xiong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Kunzheng
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D028023:Arecaceae; D055396:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 / Q000235:genetics; D002113:Calcification, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D050659:Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D015675:Osteocalcin / Q000235:genetics; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C525719:Bmp2 protein, mouse; D055396:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2; D050659:Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C493716:Runx2 protein, mouse; D015675:Osteocalcin; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase