Effects of water extract of Cajanus cajan leaves on differentiation and function of primary osteoblasts and osteoclasts in vitro

Abstract

The effects of water extract of Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp. leaves (WECML) on differentiation and function of primary osteoblasts and osteoclasts were studied. The results indicated that WECML inhibited the proliferation of osteoblasts at higher concentration of 100 μg/mL and the inhibition rate was 12.12%. When its concentration descended to 0.01~10 μg/mL, it turned to stimulate the proliferation of the osteoblasts. The effects of WECML on differentiation of osteoblasts depended on concentrations and time. It promoted the mineralization function of osteoblasts at concentrations of 0.01, 0.1, and 1 μg/mL, but inhibited the mineralization function at concentrations of 10 and 100 μg/mL. It inhibited bone resorption activity as indicated by the dose-dependent reduction in the pit numbers and areas (P < 0.05). This indicates that the WECML may be a potential source of natural anti-osteoporosis products.

Keywords::

• Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.
• differentiation
• function
• osteoblasts
• osteoclasts

Declaration of interest: This work was supported by the Foundation for Key Program of the Ministry of Education of China (No. 208018) and the Natural Science Foundation of Hebei University. Returned Scholars of Hebei Province (No.207041). The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.