Curcumin inhibits the proliferation and mineralization of cultured osteoblasts

• Published in: European journal of pharmacology Vol. 534; no. 1; pp. 55 - 62
• Main Authors: Notoya, Michitaka, Nishimura, Hiroyuki, Woo, Je-Tae, Nagai, Kazuo, Ishihara, Yoko, Hagiwara, Hiromi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 18.03.2006; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; Animals, Newborn; Biological and medical sciences; Calcification, Physiologic; Cell Differentiation; Cell Proliferation; Cells, Cultured; Curcuma longa; Curcumin; Curcumin - pharmacology; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 - genetics; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 - metabolism; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Gene Expression Regulation; Medical sciences; Mineralization; Osteoblasts; Osteoblasts - cytology; Osteoblasts - drug effects; Osteoblasts - metabolism; p21; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Polyphenol; Proliferation; Rats; Rats, Wistar; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; Time Factors; Polyphenol; Curcumin; Proliferation; Mineralization; Osteoblasts; p21; Osteoarticular system; Cell proliferation; Phenols; Osteoblast; Bone
• ISSN: 0014-2999; 1879-0712
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2006.01.028

The effects of curcumin, which is an important constituent of rhizomes of the plant Curcuma longa Linn, on the metabolism of osteoblasts were examined in cultures of rat calvarial osteoblastic cells (ROB cells). The proliferation of cells was markedly inhibited upon exposure of cells to curcumin at 5 × 10 − 6 to 1 × 10 − 5 M. Curcumin at 1 × 10 − 5 M did not induce apoptosis in ROB cells but arrested cells at the G1 phase of the cell cycle. In addition, curcumin stimulated the expression of mRNA for p21 WAF1/CIP1, which inhibits the activity of cyclin-dependent kinases, and inhibited the phosphorylation of histone H1. Furthermore, curcumin reduced the rate of deposition of calcium and the formation of mineralized nodules. Our results indicate that curcumin might inhibit the proliferation and mineralization of osteoblastic cells through the expression of p21 WAF1/CIP1.