Puerarin stimulates osteoblasts differentiation and bone formation through estrogen receptor, p38 MAPK, and Wnt/β-catenin pathways.
Puerarin is an isoflavone extracted from Radix Puerariae, a traditional Chinese herb used to treat many diseases such as osteoporosis. In this study, puerarin was shown to stimulate alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, type I collagen (Col I) secretion, and mineralized nodules formation of primary osteoblasts. Whereas the estrogen receptor (ER) antagonist ICI 182780 was able to reduce the increase in ALP activity and Col I secretion induced by puerarin. Furthermore, puerarin was shown to elevate levels of phospho-p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and β-catenin proteins in a time-dependent manner. Pretreatment of osteoblasts with ICI 182780 can reduce this elevation, whereas pretreatment with p38 MAPK inhibitor SB 203580 did not affect the increase of β-catenin protein. Meanwhile, intragastric administration of puerarin protected against reduction in bone mineral density and bone mineral content in ovariectomized rats, and improved femur trabecular bone structure. Taken together, ER, p38 MAPK, and Wnt/β-catenin pathways were involved in puerarin-stimulated osteoblasts differentiation and bone formation.
Medical College of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.
Pan-Pan
PP
Wang
Xiao-Feng
XF
Zhu
Li
L
Yang
Heng
H
Liang
Shui-Wang
SW
Feng
Rong-Hua
RH
Zhang
D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D007529:Isoflavones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000187:drug effects*; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism
D024042:Collagen Type I; D007529:Isoflavones; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D051176:beta Catenin; D004958:Estradiol; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; C033607:puerarin