Beneficial effects of Cuscuta chinensis extract on glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis through modulation of RANKL/OPG signals

• Published in: Brazilian journal of medical and biological research Vol. 52; no. 12; p. e8754
• Main Authors: Mo, Hui, Zhang, Ning, Li, Huifu, Li, Fan, Pu, Rong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Portuguese
• Published: Brazil Associacao Brasileira de Divulgacao Cientifica (ABDC) 01.01.2019; Revista Brasileira de Pesquisas Medicas; Associação Brasileira de Divulgação Científica
• Subjects: Aging; Analysis; Animals; Anti-osteoporosis; BIOLOGY; Blotting, Western; Body weight; Bone Density - drug effects; Bone formation; Bone mineral density; Bone resorption; Cbfa-1 protein; Central nervous system depressants; Chlorogenic acid; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Cuscuta - chemistry; Cuscuta chinensis; Dexamethasone; Dexamethasone - pharmacology; Femur; Gene expression; Glucocorticoids; Glucocorticoids - pharmacology; Herbal medicine; High performance liquid chromatography; Immunohistochemistry; MEDICINE, RESEARCH & EXPERIMENTAL; Messenger RNA; Osteoblasts; Osteoclastogenesis; Osteoclasts; Osteoporosis; Osteoporosis - chemically induced; Osteoporosis - prevention & control; Osteoprotegerin; Osteoprotegerin - drug effects; Osteoprotegerin - metabolism; Oxidative status; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Quercetin; RANK Ligand - drug effects; RANK Ligand - metabolism; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; RNA; RNA, Messenger; RunX2; Sexual disorders; TRANCE protein; China; Dexamethasone; Bone formation; Oxidative status; Anti-osteoporosis; RunX2
• ISSN: 0100-879X; 1414-431X; 1414-431X; 1678-4510
• DOI: 10.1590/1414-431x20198754

Cuscuta chinensis Lam. (Convolvulaceae) is an important herbal medicine widely used to improve sexual function, treat osteoporosis, and prevent aging, and has been reported to exhibit anti-osteoporotic effects in vitro. However, the activity of Cuscuta chinensis Lam. on glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis still remains unclear. The present study aimed to assess the protective effect and the underlying mechanism of action of Cuscuta chinensis extract (CCE) against glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis in vivo. Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups as follows: control group, osteoporosis group, and 2 CCE-treated osteoporosis groups (100 mg·kg-1·day-1). Blood samples and femur bones were collected for immunohistochemistry, biochemical, mRNA expression, and western blot analysis. HPLC analysis revealed that chlorogenic acid, quercetin, and hyperin were the major constituents of CCE. The results indicated that CCE increased bone length, bone weight, and bone mineral density and suppressed dexamethasone (DEX)-induced reduction in body weight. In addition, TRAP staining indicated that CCE reduced osteoclasts in DEX-induced osteoporosis rats. Mechanistically, CCE treatment alleviated the increase of bone resorption markers and the decline of osteogenic markers, which might be partially mediated by regulation of RANKL/OPG and RunX2 pathways. These results suggest that CCE showed promising effects in the protection against glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis through protecting osteoblasts and suppressing osteoclastogenesis.