Effects of Safflower Seed Extract on the Osteoblastic Activity and Bone Regeneration

홍화씨 추출물이 조골모유사세포활성 및 골재생에 미치는 영향

The purpose of the present study is to examine the effect of cell proliferation and alkaline phosphatase activity in osteoblastic cells and to compare the bone healing ability of rat calvarial defects between the control group and the safflower seed extract treated group. Osteoblastic cells were obtained from calvariae of a fetal rat. Cells were cultured containing DMEM and safflower seed extract ($10^{-6}g/ml$, $10^{-3}g/ml$) at $37^{\circ}$ with 5% $CO_2$ in 100% humidity for 3 days. MTT was performed to examine the viability of the cells, and alkaline phosphatase activity was analyzed to examine the mineralization in vitro. Rat calvarial defects($5{\times}5mm$) in 250g Sprague-Dawly were made using round bur. Rats were administrated with safflower seed extract(0.35g/kg/day) for experimental periods. Calvarial defects were studied histopathologically and immunohistochemically at 1,4, and 8 weeks. High concentration group($10^{-3}g/ml$) of safflower seed extract significantly increased in the cell proliferation and alkaline phos phatase synthesis in osteoblastic cells. The infiltration of inflammatory cells and osteoclastic activities were decreased in the safflower seed extract treated group as compared with control group. Bone maturation was accelerated in the safflower seed extract treated group as compared to control group. No difference in osteoinductive process was observed between the control and the safflower seed extract treated group. Immunohistochemical observation revealed that protein expression of TGF-$\beta$and osteonectin during early healing phase in the safflower seed extract treated group was slightly increased as compared to control group. These results indicate that safflower seed extract promotes the healing process in bony defect of rat calvariae, and retains a potential applicability as an adjuvant therapeutic modality for regeneration of periodontal bony defect.