Effects of pharbitidis semen extract on osteoblast differentiation in MC3T3-E1 cells

Osteoblasts mineralize bone matrix in the process of bone formation and osteoblastic differentiation is an important step of bone formation. Some drugs have useful effects for bone formation in oriental medicine. In this study, to confirm the anti-inflammation and osteoblast differentiation effect of Pharbitidis Semen extract used in oriental medicine, we investigated cell viability, Alizarin red S assay, and Alkaline phosphatase(ALP) activity with Pharbitidis Semen extract. Also, we studied the inhibition effect of nitric oxide(NO) generation with Pharbitidis Semen extract in RAW 264.7 cell. Our results showed that Pharbitidis Semen extract had almost no cytotoxicity to the cell and it significantly enhanced the induction of ALP activity and Alizarin red S staining for osteogenesis in MC3T3-E1 cell. Also, all Pharbitidis Semen extract inhibited the LPS-induced NO generation in RAW 264.7 cell. Especially, Pharbitidis Semen ethyl acetate extract and Pharbitidis Semen butanol extract showed to be powerful inhibitors of NO generation. In conclusion, Pharbitidis Semen extract increased the ALP activity, Alizarin red S assay activity for bone formation and attenuated NO generation for inflammation. These results suggest that Pharbitidis Semen extract may act as a successful drug for osteogenic differentiation in vitro and could have the potential to be use as a therapeutic agent for bone formation.