LAUSR

Purpose: To investigate the effect of polygonimitin C (PC) on bone formation and resorption in human osteoblast-like MG63 cells. Methods: MG63 cells were treated with PC at doses of 0, 20, 40 or 80 μg/mL for 48 h, with an untreated group as control. The effect of PC on alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity in MG63 cells was investigated by p-nitrophenyl phosphate disodium hexahydrate assay. Western blot assay was used to evaluate the effect of PC on the expressions of osterix (OSX), bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2), runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX-2), osteocalcin (OC), fibronectin (FN), type I collagen (COL I), osteoprotegerin (OPG) and receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) proteins in MG63 cells. Results: ALP relative activity in MG63 cells treated with PC at 20, 40 or 80 μg/mL (123.58, 137.74 or 159.62 %, respectively) was significantly ( p < 0.05 or 0.01) higher than that in control group (99.37 %). Expressions of OSX, BMP-2, RUNX-2, OC, FN, COL I and OPG proteins in MG63 cells treated with PC at 20, 40 or 80 μg/mL were significantly ( p < 0.01) higher than those in control group. However, there were no statistically significant differences in RANKL protein expression between PC-treated MG63 cells and control group. Conclusion: These results show that PC exerts protective effects against osteoporosis by promoting bone formation and inhibiting bone resorption. Thus, PC may be useful in the development of new antiosteoporosis drugs. Keywords: Polygonimitin C, MG63 cells, Bone formation, Bone resorption, Osteoporosis