title: St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) stimulates human osteoblastic MG-63 cell proliferation and attenuates trabecular bone loss induced by ovariectomy.
abstract: The effect of St. John's Wort extract (SJW) on MG-63 cell proliferation and trabecular bone loss induced by ovariectomy was examined.
  
  
  METHODS
  Proliferation, expression of estrogen receptor (ER) α and ER β, and gene expressions of osteoprotegerin (OPG), osteocalcin (OC) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were examined in MG-63 cells treated with or without SJW. Ovariectomized rats were treated with SJW at the dose of 100 or 200 mg/kg/day, β-estradiol-3-benzoate (E2), or vehicle only (OVX-C), and sham operated rats were treated with vehicle only (Sham-C). Serum ALP and C-telopeptide (CTX), and femoral trabecular bone loss were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SJW increased MG-63 cell proliferation and expression of ER α and ER β, and positive effect was shown on gene expressions of ALP, OC and OPG. SJW also showed estrogen like effect on bone associated with slowing down in trabecular bone loss. Histopathology by H&E showed rats treated with SJW displayed denser structure in metaphyseal region of distal femur compared with rats in OVX-C. SJW was shown to reduce serum CTX in OVX rats.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study provides new insight in preventing estrogen deficiency induced bone loss of SJW and possibility for its application in bone health supplement.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutrition / Research Institute of Human Ecology, Mokpo National University, 61 Dorim-ri, 1666 Youngsan-ro, Cheonggye-myeon, Muan-gun, Jeonnam 534-729, Korea.
authors.forename: Mi-Kyoung
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: You
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Technology/Food Functional Research Center, Jeonnam National University, Gwangju 500-757, Korea.
authors.forename: Du-Woon
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 702-701, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyu-Shik
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.affiliation: Jeonnam Biofood Technology Center, Naju, Jeonnam 520-330, Korea.
authors.forename: Mi-Ae
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bang
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Technology/Food Functional Research Center, Jeonnam National University, Gwangju 500-757, Korea.
authors.forename: Hwan-Seon
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutrition / Research Institute of Human Ecology, Mokpo National University, 61 Dorim-ri, 1666 Youngsan-ro, Cheonggye-myeon, Muan-gun, Jeonnam 534-729, Korea.
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rhuy
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutrition / Research Institute of Human Ecology, Mokpo National University, 61 Dorim-ri, 1666 Youngsan-ro, Cheonggye-myeon, Muan-gun, Jeonnam 534-729, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyeon-A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: MG-63 cells; St. John's Wort; osteoporosis; ovariectomy; proliferation