• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.613-618
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• 2009

Although the effect of Eucommie umoides oliver in osteoporosis has been studied, direct action of Eucommis ulmoides Oliver on osteoclasts remains unknown. Here we examined whether Eucommiae cortex inhibits osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption, a process known to be involved in bone diseases such as osteoporosis. Water extract from Eucommiae cortex (WE-EC) inhibited differentiation of bone marrow macrophages (BMMs) into osteoclasts without causing cytotoxicity. WE-EC suppressed the phosphorylation of p38, ERK, and JNK in BMMs treated with RANKL. WE EC specifically suppressed the mRNA expression of NFATc1 induced by RANKL. However, WE-EC inhibited stability of c-Fos protein induced by RANKL. Furthermore, WE-EC inhibited osteoclast survival induced by RANKL and in turn suppressed bone resorption. Taken together, our results suggest that WE-EC may be better agents for therapeutic use in bone diseases.