Abstract

In this study, the stimulative effects of ethanol extract on proliferation and differentiation of osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cell were examined by in vitro assays, including cell proliferative CCK-8 assay, cell cycle analysis assay and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity assay. Cell proliferation results showed that the ethanol extract from Polygonum orientale L. stimulated cell proliferation significantly at 0.1 to 100 μg/ml and the proportion S-phase of cells increased from 20.97 to 25.05% in osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells. At the same time, ethanol extracts increased alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity of MC3T3-E1 cells (significant at 1 to 100 μg/ml). These results indicated that the herb Polygonum orientale L. could directly stimulate cell proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts. These results preliminarily explored the pharmacological mechanism of Polygonum orientale L. to promote the curing of bone rheumatism and various fractures.

Key words: Polygonum orientale L., proliferation, differentiation, osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cell, alkaline phosphatase.