Synergistic effects of combined therapy of curcumin and Fructus Ligustri Lucidi for treatment of osteoporosis: cellular and molecular evidence of enhanced bone formation.
10.1016/j.joim.2018.08.003
- Author:
Syed Nasir Abbas BUKHARI
1
;
Fahad HUSSAIN
2
;
Hnin Ei THU
3
;
Zahid HUSSAIN
4
Author Information
1. Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Aljouf University, Aljouf 2014, Sakaka, Saudi Arabia.
2. Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB), The University of Lahore, Lahore 55150, Pakistan.
3. Department of Pharmacology and Dental Therapeutics, Faculty of Dentistry, Lincoln University College, Petaling Jaya 47301, Selangor, Malaysia.
4. Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Puncak Alam Campus, Bandar Puncak Alam 42300, Selangor, Malaysia. Electronic address: zahidh85@yahoo.com.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Bone formation;
Cell differentiation;
Cell proliferation;
Combined herbal therapy;
Curcumin;
Fructus Ligustri Lucidi;
Osteoporosis
- From:
Journal of Integrative Medicine
2019;17(1):38-45
- CountryChina
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE:The present study explored the effects of the combined herbal therapy consisting of curcumin (CUR) and Fructus Ligustri Lucidi (FLL) on aspects of bone regeneration.
METHODS:Prior to analyzing the ability of this novel combined herbal therapy to promote aspects of bone regeneration, its cytotoxicity was determined using MC3T3-E1 cells (pre-osteoblast model). Cell proliferation was evaluated using phase-contrast microscopy and cell differentiation was estimated using alkaline phosphatase activity. The effect of the combined herbal therapy (CUR + FLL) was also assessed in terms of mineralization in the extracellular matrix (ECM) of cultured cells. Further, to explore the molecular mechanisms of bone formation, time-dependent expression of bone-regulating protein biomarkers was also evaluated.
RESULTS:Combined herbal therapy (CUR + FLL) significantly upregulated the viability, proliferation and differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells compared to the monotherapy of CUR or FLL. The magnitude of ECM mineralization (calcium deposition) was also higher in MC3T3-E1 cells treated with combined therapy. The time-dependent expression of bone-forming protein biomarkers revealed that the tendency of expression of these bone-regulating proteins was remarkably higher in cells treated with combined therapy.
CONCLUSION:The co-administration of CUR and FLL had superior promotion of elements of bone regeneration in cultured cells, thus could be a promising alternative herbal therapy for the management of bone erosive disorders such as osteoporosis.
