Effect of puerarin on the bone metabolism in vitro

To study the effect of puerarin on the bone formation and the bone resorption in vitro.The osteoblasts (OBs) were obtained from the rat calvaria. The osteoclasts (OCs) were isolated by the methods according Chambers' and Yu Shifeng's. The cells in the experiment group were grown in 10% fetal calf serum (FCS) + alpha MEM + various concentrations of puerarin. The control groups were grown in 10% FCS + alpha MEM. The growth of OBs was assessed by MTT method. The differentiation of OBs was examined by the ALP activity. The OCs were observed by the TRAP stain. The area of bone resorption and the concentration of Ca2+ in the supernatant liquid of OCs cultures were also tested.Puerarin had no effect on the growth of the OBs, but it could stimulate the formation and the secretion of alkaline phosphatase (ALP). The OCs vacuolarized under the effect of puerarin. The area of bone resorption and the concentration of Ca2+ in the supernatant liquid of OCs cultures were both decreased.Puerarin can suppress the bone resorption and promote the bone formation, but the former effect is stronger than the latter.PubMed0174-73