Effects of a traditional Chinese herbal preparation on osteoblasts and osteoclasts

Zhang, Hong; Xing, Wei-Wei; Li, Yu-Shan; Zhu, Zheng; Wu, Jin-Zhong; Zhang, Qiao-Yan; Zhang, Wen; Qin, Lu-Ping

doi:10.1016/j.maturitas.2008.09.023

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Volume 61, Issue 4 , Pages 334-339, 20 December 2008

Effects of a traditional Chinese herbal preparation on osteoblasts and osteoclasts

Hong Zhang
- Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, PR China
- Co-first authors.
Wei-Wei Xing
- Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, PR China
- Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Traditional Chinese Materia Medica, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, PR China
- Co-first authors.
Yu-Shan Li
- Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Traditional Chinese Materia Medica, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, PR China
Zheng Zhu
- Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Traditional Chinese Materia Medica, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, PR China
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, PR China
Jin-Zhong Wu
- Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fujian 350108, PR China
Qiao-Yan Zhang
- Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, PR China
Wen Zhang
- Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, PR China
Lu-Ping Qin
- Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, PR China
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +86 21 25070394; fax: +86 21 25070394.

Received 21 July 2008; received in revised form 19 September 2008; accepted 22 September 2008. published online 27 October 2008.

Abstract

Background

Bone formation and resorption is a balanced and continuous process. When osteoclastic bone resorption exceeds osteoblastic bone formation, bone density decreases, which can lead to osteoporosis. Er-Zhi-Wan (EZW), a famous traditional Chinese formulation, has been developed as a restorative formula for hundreds of years, which contains two herbs viz. Herba Ecliptae and Fructus Ligustri Lucidi. EZW is widely used to prevent and treat various kidney diseases for its actions of nourishing the kidney yin and strengthening tendon and bone. The objective of current study was to investigate the effects of EZW on proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts and osteoclasts in vitro using a serum pharmacological method.

Methods

The rats were orally administered EZW (0.45, 1.8 and 7.2gkg⁻¹) for total seven doses and twice a day, and then the different concentrations of EZW-containing serum were prepared. The proliferation of primary cultural osteoblasts, UMR106 and RAW264.7 cells and differentiation of osteoclasts were determined after these cells were treated with different concentrations of EZW-containing serum for a period of time.

Results

The serum from rats treated with EZW for 4 days did not facilitate proliferation of primary cultural osteoblasts and UMR106 cells, but evidently inhibited both proliferation of RAW264.7 cells and differentiation of osteoclasts from RAW264.7 cells induced by receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand (RANK-L) and macrophage-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF).

Conclusion

Antiosteoporotic activity of EZW is carried out mainly via restraint of osteoclastic bone resorption, which is in accordance with the traditional Chinese medicine theory on nourishing the kidney yin. Therefore EZW has favorable potency to develop a new anti-osteoporotic agent in clinic.

Keywords: Er-Zhi-Wan, Traditional Chinese formulation, Osteoporosis, Serum pharmacology