• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.617-629
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• 2022

Purpose: Osteoporosis is characterized by structural deterioration of the bone tissue because of the loss of osteoblastic activity or the increase in osteoclastic activity, resulting in bone fragility and an increased risk of fractures. Hederagenin (Hed) is a pentacyclic triterpenoid saponin isolated from Dipsaci Radix, the dried root of Dipsacus asper Wall. Dipsaci Radix has been used in Korean herbal medicine to treat bone fractures. In this study, we attempted to demonstrate the potential anti-osteoporotic effect of Hed by examining its effect on osteoblast differentiation in MC3T3-E1 cells. Methods: Osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells were cultured in 0, 1, and 10 ㎍/mL Hed for 3 and 7 days. The activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bone nodule formation and level of expression of bone-related genes and proteins were measured in MC3T3-E1 cells exposed to Hed. The western blot test was used to detect the activation of the bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP2)/ Suppressor of Mothers against Decapentaplegic (SMAD)1 pathway. Results: Hed significantly increased the proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells. Intracellular ALP activity was significantly increased in the 1 ㎍/mL Hed-treated group. Hed significantly increased the concentration of calcified nodules. Furthermore, Hed significantly upregulated the expression of genes and proteins associated with osteoblast proliferation and differentiation, such as Runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), ALP, osteopontin (OPN), and type I procollagen (ProCOL1). Induction of osteoblast differentiation by Hed was associated with increased BMP2. In addition, Hed induced osteoblast differentiation by increasing the activity of SMAD1/5/8. These results suggest that Hed has the potential to prevent osteoporosis by promoting osteoblastogenesis in osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells via the modulation of the BMP2/SMAD1 pathway. Conclusion: The results presented in this study indicate that Hed isolated from Dipsaci Radix has the potential to be developed as a healthcare food and functional material possessing anti-osteoporosis effects.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.95 no.6
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• pp.735-742
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• 2006

The objective of this study was to elucidate the tolerance of woody plants to simulated acid rain in relation to mycorrhizal inoculation. Germinating seedlings of Robinia pseudoacacia were planted in 1I pots with autoclaved soil mixture of vermiculite, sand and nursery soil at 1:1:1 ratio. Each pot was inoculated with both crushed root nodules from a wild tree of the same species and commercial arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculum of Glomus intraradices at the time of planting the seedlings. Simulated acid rains at pH 2.6, 3.6, 4.6, and 5.6 were made by mixing sulfuric acid and nitric acid at 3: 1 ratio. Each pot received nutrient solution without N and P, and was also supplied with 180 ml of the one pH level of the acid rains once a week for 50 days. The plants were grown in the green house. At the end of experimental period, plants were harvested to determine contents of chlorophyll, mineral nutrients and net photosynthesis in the tissues, dry weight of the plants, and mycorrhizal infection in the roots. Mycorrhizal infection rate was significantly reduced only at pH 2.6, which meant vitality of G intraradices was inhibited at extremely low pH. Height growth, dry weight production, nodule production and chlorophyll content were increased by mycorrhizal infection in all the pH levels except pH 3.6. Particularly, mycorrhizal inoculation increased root nodule production by 85% in pH 5.6 and 45% in 4.6 treatments. But the stimulatory effect of mycorrhizal inoculation on nodule production was reduced at pH 3.6 and 2.6. Net photosynthesis was increased by mycorrhizal infection in all the pH levels. The phosphorus(P) content in the tissues was increased by 43% in average by mycorrhizal inoculation, which was statistically significant except in pH 2.6. It was concluded that mycorrhizal inoculation of Robinia pseudoacacia would enhance growth and resistance of the plants to acid rain by improving the photosynthesis, phosphorus nutrition, and more nodule production.