Planta Med 2007; 73(4): 341-347
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-967168
Original Paper
Pharmacology
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Stimulatory Effect of Puerarin on Bone Formation through Activation of PI3K/Akt Pathway in Rat Calvaria Osteoblasts

Yun Zhang1 , Xianghui Zeng1 , Le Zhang1 , Xiaoxiang Zheng1
  • 1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, P. R. China
Weitere Informationen

Publikationsverlauf

Received: November 13, 2006 Revised: February 5, 2007

Accepted: February 14, 2007

Publikationsdatum:
18. April 2007 (online)

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Abstract

Puerarin, a natural isoflavonoid found in Chinese Pueraria lobata (Wild.) Ohwi, has received increasing attention because of its possible role in the prevention of osteoporosis. However, the relationship between puerarin and bone formation remains unknown. In the present study, rat osteoblasts isolated from newborn Wistar rats were used to investigate the effect of puerarin on osteoblasts, and its possible molecular mechanism. Data showed that puerarin caused a significant increase in cell viability, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and mineral nodules formation in osteoblasts, suggesting that puerarin had a stimulatory effect on osteoblastic bone formation. This functional improvement by puerarin was accompanied by activation and nuclear translocation of Akt. Furthermore, puerarin-stimulated osteoblastic growth, Akt activation and redistribution were significantly blocked by the specific PI3K inhibitor, LY294002. These results strongly suggested that puerarin stimulated osteoblastic proliferation and Akt activation in a PI3K-dependent manner. In summary, puerarin derived from Chinese Pueraria lobata (Wild.) Ohwi can promote bone formation in cultured rat osteoblasts, which might be mediated by activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway.

Abbreviations

DMEM:Dulbecco's modification of Eagel's medium

PBS:phosphate buffered saline

DMSO:dimethyl sulfoxide

EDTA:ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid

SDS:sodium dodecyl sulfate

SDS-PAGE:sodium dodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis

FITC:fluorescein isothiocyanate

HRP:horseradish peroxidase

PI3K:phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase

References

Prof. Xiaoxiang Zheng

Department of Biomedical Engineering

Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education

Zhejiang University

Zheda Road 38

310027 Hangzhou

China

Telefon: +86-571-8795-1091

Fax: +86-571-8795-1676

eMail: zxx@mail.hz.zj.cn