Effects of herbaceous plant preparation of Cistanche on in vitro cytokine expression by rat osteoblasts

Authors Li, Caihong; Li, Qing; Liu, Zhongjie; Xing, Xiaoxu; Tian, Dan; Vrbanac, Zoran; Smolec, Ozren; Stanin, Damir; Kos, Josip

Journal VETERINARSKI ARHIV , MAY-JUN 2015,3:85

Abstract Osteoblasts (OB) play an important role in bone remodeling through the release of cytokines such as osteoprotegerin (OPG), a receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL) and osteopontin (OPN). The objective of our study was to evaluate the effects of Chinese herb extracts of Cistanche (Cistanche deserticola) on the in vitro expression of these cytokines in rat OB cell culture. The primary OBs were isolated from the rat skull by trypsin and collagenase digestion. The cellular phenotype was determined by the Swiss dyeing method, alkaline phosphatase staining, Von Kossa staining, and Alizarin red staining. The gene expression of OPG, RANKL and OPN were analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR. All treatments with herbaceous plant extracts of Cistanche increased the gene expression of OPG and RANKL at 72 hours of culturing, especially at concentrations of 5 x 10(-2) mg/mL, which were significantly different compared to the control cultures. Treatment significantly reduced the expression of the OPG/RANKL ratio at 48 hours and the expression of OPN mRNA at 72 hours of culturing. The in vitro exposure of OB to the plant preparation of Cistanche promoted the gene expression of OPG and RANKL and reduced the gene expression of OPG/RANKL and OPN, and thus, could maintain the balance of bone formation and resorption during bone metabolism.

Species covered 肉苁蓉 Cistanche deserticola