Combined treatment with Dendrobium candidum and black tea extract promotes osteoprotective activity in ovariectomized estrogen deficient rats and osteoclast formation

The potential application of fermented tea as a drink for regulating bone mass

Currently, there is evidence to suggest the benefits of drinking fermented tea for people with osteoporosis, and based on this, many studies have been conducted on the dosage, exact ingredients, mechanisms, and industrial applications of fermented tea for protecting against osteoporosis. A summary and analysis of studies on the regulation of bone mass by oolong tea, black tea, and their active ingredients (including 39 known catechin compounds) was conducted. It was found that the regulation of bone mass by fermented tea is backed by evidence from epidemiology, animal experiments, and cell experiments. The main active components of fermented tea are tea polyphenols, tea pigments, and trace amino acids. The specific mechanisms involved include regulating bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell osteogenesis, inhibiting osteoclast activity, promoting calcium and phosphorus absorption, reducing inflammation levels, regulating gut microbiota, regulating endocrine function, and inhibiting oxidative stress. In terms of its application, extraction, precipitation, biosynthesis and membrane separation method are mainly used to separate the active ingredients of anti osteoporosis from fermented tea. In conclusion, fermented tea has sufficient theoretical and practical support for regulating bone mass and preventing osteoporosis, and is suitable for development as a health supplement. At the same time, a large amount of epidemiological evidence is needed to prove the specific dosage of tea consumption.

Anti-osteoporosis activity of casticin in ovariectomized rats

Background

Postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMPO) is the most familiar type of osteoporosis, a silent bone disease. Casticin, a natural flavonoid constituent, improves osteoporosis in animal model. Nevertheless, the potential mechanism remains to be further explored.

Methods

A model of PMPO was established in rats treated with ovariectomy (OVX) and RAW 264.7 cells induced with receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL). The effect and potential mechanism of casticin on PMPO were addressed by pathological staining, measurement of bone mineral density (BMD), three-point bending test, serum biochemical detection, filamentous-actin (F-actin) ring staining, TRAcP staining, reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction, western blot and examination of oxidative stress indicators.

Results

The casticin treatment increased the femoral trabecular area, bone maturity, BMD, elastic modulus, maximum load, the level of calcium and estrogen with the reduced concentrations of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in OVX rats. An enhancement in the F-actin ring formation, TRAcP staining and the relative mRNA expression of NFATc1 and TRAP was observed in RANKL-induced RAW 264.7 cells, which was declined by the treatment of casticin. Moreover, the casticin treatment reversed the reduced the relative protein expression of Nrf2 and HO-1 and the concentrations of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase, and the increased content of malondialdehyde both in vivo and in vitro.

Conclusion

Casticin improved bone density, bone biomechanics, the level of calcium and estrogen, the release of pro-inflammatory factor and oxidative stress to alleviate osteoporosis, which was associated with the upregulation of Nrf2/HO-1 pathway.

Potential mechanism of tea for treating osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis

Osteoporosis (OP), osteoarthritis (OA), and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are common bone and joint diseases with a high incidence and long duration. Thus, these conditions can affect the lives of middle-aged and elderly people. Tea drinking is a traditional lifestyle in China, and the long-term intake of tea and its active ingredients is beneficial to human health. However, the mechanisms of action of tea and its active ingredients against OP, OA, and RA are not completely elucidated. This study aimed to assess the therapeutic role and related mechanisms of tea and its active ingredients in OP, OA, and RA. Moreover, it expanded the potential mechanisms of tea efficacy based on network pharmacology and molecular docking. Results showed that tea has potential anti-COX properties and hormone-like effects. Compared with a single component, different tea components synergize or antagonize each other, thereby resulting in a more evident dual effect. In conclusion, tea has great potential in the medical and healthcare fields. Nevertheless, further research on the composition, proportion, and synergistic mechanism of several tea components should be performed.

FAEE exerts a protective effect against osteoporosis by regulating the MAPK signalling pathway

CONTEXT

Ferulic acid ethyl ester (FAEE) is abundant in Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. (Apiaceae) and grains, and possesses diverse biological activities; but the effects of FAEE on osteoporosis has not been reported.

OBJECTIVE

This study investigated whether FAEE can attenuate osteoclastogenesis and relieve ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis via attenuating mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We stimulated RAW 264.7 cells with receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) followed by FAEE. The roles of FAEE in osteoclast production and osteogenic resorption of mature osteoclasts were evaluated by tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining, expression of osteoclast-specific genes, proteins and MAPK. Ovariectomized (OVX) female Sprague-Dawley rats were administered FAEE (20 mg/kg/day) for 12 weeks to explore its potential in vivo, and then histology was undertaken in combination with cytokines analyses.

RESULTS

FAEE suppressed RANKL-induced osteoclast formation (96 ± 0.88 vs. 15 ± 1.68) by suppressing the expression of osteoclast-specific genes, proteins and MAPK signalling pathway related proteins (p-ERK/ERK, p-JNK/JNK and p-P38/P38) in vitro. In addition, OVX rats exposed to FAEE maintained their normal calcium (Ca) (2.72 ± 0.02 vs. 2.63 ± 0.03, p < 0.05) balance, increased oestradiol levels (498.3 ± 9.43 vs. 398.7 ± 22.06, p < 0.05), simultaneously reduced levels of bone mineral density (BMD) (0.159 ± 0.0016 vs. 0.153 ± 0.0025, p < 0.05) and bone mineral content (BMC) (0.8 ± 0.0158 vs. 0.68 ± 0.0291, p < 0.01).

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggested that FAEE could be used to ameliorate osteoporosis by the MAPK signalling pathway, suggesting that FAEE could be a potential therapeutic candidate for osteoporosis.

Dendrobium officinale polysaccharide inhibits vascular calcification via anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects in chronic kidney disease

Vascular calcification is very common in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), but so far, there is no effective treatment. Dendrobium officinale polysaccharide (DOP), a natural component of Chinese herbal medicine, has been shown to exert anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic activity. Inflammation and apoptosis play an essential role in the progression of vascular calcification. However, the exact role and molecular mechanisms of DOP in vascular calcification remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of DOP on vascular calcification using vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), arterial rings, and CKD rats. Alizarin red staining and gene expression analysis revealed that DOP inhibited calcification and osteogenic differentiation of rat VSMCs in a dose-dependent manner. Similarly, ex vivo studies revealed that DOP inhibited the calcification of rat arterial rings. Furthermore, the administration of DOP alleviated vascular calcification in CKD rats. Moreover, DOP treatment suppressed VSMC inflammation and apoptosis. Finally, DOP treatment upregulated mRNA and protein levels of heme oxygenase-1 (HMOX-1); both pharmacological inhibition of HMOX-1 by the HMOX-1 inhibitor zinc protoporphyrin-9ZnPP9 and knockdown of HMOX-1 by siRNA markedly abrogated the suppression of inflammation and osteogenic differentiation of VSMCs by DOP. Collectively, these results suggest that DOP alleviates vascular calcification in CKD by suppressing apoptosis and inflammation via HMOX-1 activation. These results may provide a promising treatment for vascular calcification in CKD.

Protective effects of Dendrobium candidum Wall ex Lindl. on high-fat diet-induced liver damage in mice

D. candidum Wall. ex Lindl. (D. candidum) is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine with multiple therapeutic properties. D. candidum was administered to mice with high-fat diet (HFD)-induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its mechanism of action was elucidated. D. candidum was intragastrically administered to HFD mice for 6 weeks at a dosage of 200 or 400 mg/kg. D. candidum reduced body weight gain and blood glucose levels in HFD mice in a dose-dependent manner, while significantly reducing lipid accumulation in the liver. D. candidum significantly regulated the expression of lipid metabolism- and gluconeogenesis-related genes and inhibited activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. In summary, D. candidum significantly inhibits fat accumulation, maintains lipid metabolism and glucose homeostasis, and inhibits the inflammatory response in the liver of HFD mice. Our findings suggest that D. candidum may be an effective therapeutic strategy against NAFLD injury. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The occurrence and development of fatty liver is closely related to abnormalities in lipid and glucose metabolism. An HFD-induced NAFLD mouse model was used to study the effects of D. candidum. After treatment with D. candidum, lipid and glucose metabolism in the mice was effectively regulated, which reduced liver damage and fat storage with obvious protective effects on the liver. Our results suggest that D. candidum has potential for further clinical application in the treatment of NAFLD.

Anti-microbial Effects In Vitro and In Vivo of Alstonia scholaris

Alstonia scholaris could be used as a traditional medicinal plant in China for the treatment of acute respiratory, which might be caused by respiratory tract infections. The investigation tested the anti-infective effects of total alkaloids extract (TA) from leaves of A. scholaris, and as a result, TA inhibited herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza A virus (H1N1) in vitro respectively. In addition, the survival days of mice were prolonged, and the lung weights and mortality of mice were decreased significantly, after oral administrated TA in H1N1 and beta-hemolytic streptococcus infectious models in vivo respectively. The finding supported partly the traditional usage of A. scholaris in the treatment of respiratory infections.

Establishment of an osteoporosis model in tree shrews by bilateral ovariectomy and comprehensive evaluation

Osteoporosis (OP) treatment has always been challenging for elderly menopausal females. An animal model with a closer genetic association to human OP is essential for treatment research. Given its close genetic association to primates, the tree shrew is a suitable candidate for meeting the requirements for such an animal model. In the present study, a tree shrew OP model induced by ovariectomy (OVX), was established. Evaluation by multiple analysis methods, including blood biochemical indicators, uterus coefficients, micro-computed tomography analysis, histochemical analysis and scanning electron microscopic observation indicated that OVX was an appropriate method to establish the OP model in tree shrews. In addition, the biomolecular characteristics of OVX-induced osteoporosis were also assessed by transcriptome sequencing and bioinformatics analysis. The present study provides the methods used to confirm the successful establishment of the OP model in tree shrew, and suggests that the OP model is appropriate for human OP research.