Abstract
Dipsaci Radix is the dried root of Dipsacus asper Wall. It has been used in Korean herbal medicine to treat bone fractures. In this study, we examined the effect of the dichloromethane fraction of Dipsaci Radix (DRDM) on the osteoblastic differentiation of human alveolar bone marrow-derived MSCs (ABM-MSCs). The ABM-MSCs were isolated from healthy subjects and cultured in vitro, followed by phenotypic characterization. They showed a fibroblast-like morphology and expressed CD29, CD44, CD73, and CD105, but not CD34. Calcified nodules were generated in response to both dexamethasone (DEX) and DRDM. There was a significant increase in the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and protein expression of bone sialoprotein (BSP) and osteocalcin (OC) in response to DEX and DRDM as compared to control. These results provide evidence for the osteogenic potential of cultured ABM-MSCs in response to DRDM. Also, an active single compound was additionally isolated from DRDM. The single compound (hederagenin 3-O-(2-O-acetyl)-α-L-arabinopyranoside) also significantly increased ALP activity and the level of protein expression of BSP and OC. These results highlight the possible clinical applications of DRDM and hederagenin 3-O-(2-O-acetyl)-α-L-arabinopyranoside in bone regeneration.
