Objectives: The purpose of this study is to identify active components of PT involved in promoting proliferation of MSCs and to investigate its mechanism. PT was extracted with petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, ethanol and water respectively.
Materials and methods: Evidence provided by MTT, HE stain, BrdUrd, PCNA immunoreactivity and cell cycle indicated that Plastrum Testudinis Extracted with ethyl acetate (PTE) is the only active components responsible for increasing MSCs proliferation.
Results: This finding leads us to identify the chemical component of PTE. Steroid, fatty acids and their esters components in PTE were determined by GC-MS and HPLC. The mechanism of PTE action may be associated with the up-regulation of BMP4.
Conclusions: Our findings give novel insights into the promoting effects of Plastrum Testudinis on proliferation of MSCs and help to identify the chemical component and to clarify the mechanism of its pharmacological activities.