title: Multitargeted combination effects of a triherbal formulation containing ELP against osteoporosis: in vitro evidence.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  An anti-osteoporotic herbal formula ELP containing Epimedii Herba (E), Ligustri Lucidi Fructus (L) and Psoraleae Fructus (P) was studied to investigate the herb-herb interaction (or the possible synergistic effect) among each component and to identify the principal herbs in different modes of action.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rat osteoblast-like UMR-106 cells proliferation, rat MSCs-derived osteoblastogenesis and RANKL-induced RAW 264.7 osteoclastogenesis were adopted to investigate the bone-forming activity and bone-degrading activity of the herbal extracts. In the statistical aspect, a modified Tallarida's approach was employed to assess the synergistic effects in herbal combinations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Psoraleae Fructus is the active herb for stimulating osteoblast proliferation, and mild synergy was detected in the pairwise combinations EL, LP and formula ELP. In osteoblastogenesis assay, E and L are the principal herbs for promoting osteoblast differentiation and significant synergy was detected in the pairwise combination EL. For inhibiting osteoclast formation, L is the active herb and significant synergy was detected in the 3-way combination ELP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of E, L and P is essential for ELP formula as a whole to act against osteoporosis via enhancing bone formation and reducing bone reabsorption. An optimal dosage at 150 μg/ml was proposed for ELP based on our findings.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong.|State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Chun Hay
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong.|State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Kit Man
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.affiliation: School of Information Technologies, The University of Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Lily
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chau
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: David Wing Shing
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong.|State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Wing Sum
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Siu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong.|State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Hing Lok
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong.|State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Wai Ting
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Shum
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong.|State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Si
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Kwok Pui
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Fung
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong.|State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Ping Chung
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.affiliation: School of Information Technologies, The University of Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Simon Kar-Sing
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Poon
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong.|State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Clara Bik San
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Lau
mesh_terms: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016723:Bone Remodeling / Q000187:drug effects*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D034181:Epimedium / Q000737:chemistry; D031659:Ligustrum / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D010010:Osteoclasts / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008517:Phytotherapy; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D029907:Psoralea / Q000737:chemistry; D053245:RANK Ligand / Q000494:pharmacology; D000067996:RAW 264.7 Cells; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D053245:RANK Ligand; C505689:Tnfsf11 protein, mouse; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase
keywords: Epimedii Herba; Ligustri Lucidi Fructus; Psoraleae Fructus; anti-osteoporotic herbal formula; combination effects; synergy