title: Panax notoginseng saponins suppress radiation-induced osteoporosis by regulating bone formation and resorption.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  While radiation-based therapies are effective for treating numerous malignancies, such treatments can also induce osteoporosis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We assessed the antiosteoporotic properties of total saponins extracted from the leaves of Panax notoginseng (LPNS) in a mouse model of radiation-induced osteoporosis and in vitro.
  
  
  METHODS
  The bone mineral densities, the marker of bone formation and resorption, and inflammatory factors were measured in vivo. Cell proliferation and differentiation were detected in vitro.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that bone mineral densities in irradiated mice administered LPNS were significantly increased compared to those in irradiated mice which had not received LPNS. LPNS attenuated the inflammation caused by irradiation, and significantly increased blood serum AKP activity, the mRNA levels of RUNX2 and osteoprotegerin, and the numbers of CFU-Fs formed by bone marrow cells collected from irradiated mice. In contrast, LPNS decreased the numbers of osteoclast precursor cells (CD117(+)/RANKL(+) cells and CD71(+)/CD115(+) cells) and the mRNA levels of TRAP and ATP6i. These results suggest that LPNS functions as a negative regulator of bone resorption. In vitro assays showed that LPNS promoted the differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and mononuclear cells into osteoblasts and osteoclasts, respectively, but had no effect on osteoclast activation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results demonstrate that LPNS has significant antiosteoporotic activity, which may warrant further investigations concerning its therapeutic effects in treating radiation-induced osteoporosis.
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Du
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wenxi
authors.affiliation: The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Duan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shufang
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xiaoling
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China. Electronic address: yinliming2015@yeah.net.
authors.forename: Yin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liming
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015519:Bone Density; D001862:Bone Resorption / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D050659:Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit / Q000378:metabolism; D005720:Gamma Rays / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010010:Osteoclasts / Q000166:cytology; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D053244:Osteoprotegerin / Q000378:metabolism; D053723:Panax notoginseng / Q000737:chemistry*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D012503:Saponins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014916:Whole-Body Irradiation / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D050659:Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit; D053244:Osteoprotegerin; C493716:Runx2 protein, mouse; D012503:Saponins; C506031:Tnfrsf11b protein, mouse
keywords: Antiosteoporotic; Osteoblast; Osteoclast; Radiation; Total saponins of Panax notoginseng leaves