Effieciency of Thai local vegetables on osteoblast cell proliferation

Abstract

Introduction: Bone loss is accelerated in middle aged women but increased vegetable intake positively affects bone health. Animal studies demonstrated bone resorption inhibiting properties of specific vegetables a decade ago. Thai localvegetables are sources of several secondary metabolites that showed potential for health promotion and prevention of diseases.  There are plenty of vegetables included in Thai traditional medicine related to woman‘s healthcare that are still consumed as food. However, effieciency of Thai local vegetables on osteoblast cell proliferation has never been reported. Therefore, this research project aims to study the efficiency of 20 Thai vegetables on osteoblast cell proliferation. Materials and Method: Human fetal osteoblastic cell line, hFOB 1.19 was chosen as a model for this study and the cell proliferation was measured by the PrestoBlue^TM method. The experimental groups were osteoblast cells co-cultured with ethanolic extracts of the selected plants with the concentrations range from 10^-5 – 1 mg/ml. Two control groups of this study were osteblast cells cultured in media and the cells co-cultured with either 0.5 % dimethyl sulfoxide or 70 % ethanol. Results: Significant promotion of cell proliferation was observed in 4 of 20 extracts, and all of extracts were from Thai traditional medicine. The highest percent survival of each herb and the corresponding concentration were as follows: Polygonum odoratum Lour. (131.19 %, 10^-5 mg/ml), Cymbopogoncitratus (DC.) Stapf (125.17 %, 1 mg/ml), Allium cepa (124.53 %, 1 mg/ml) and Alliumascalonicum (119.61 %, 1 mg/ml). Conclusion: Four of 20 local vegetables selected from Thai traditional formulation are able to stimulate osteoblast cell proliferation. Therefore, these vegetables are promising as an alternative intervention for osteoporosis.