Anti-Osteoporotic Activity of Harpagoside by Upregulation of the BMP2 and Wnt Signaling Pathways in Osteoblasts and Suppression of Differentiation in Osteoclasts

J Nat Prod. 2017 Feb 24;80(2):434-442. doi: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.6b00964. Epub 2017 Jan 20.

Abstract

Harpagoside (1) is an iridoid glycoside isolated from the radix of Harpagophytum procumbens var. sublobatum, commonly called Devil's claw. The anti-osteoporotic effect of 1 was investigated in both in vitro cell cultures and in vivo using an ovariectomized (OVX) mouse model. Compound 1 induced bone formation by stimulating osteoblast proliferation, alkaline phosphatase activity, and mineralization in osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells. Treatment with 1 increased the mRNA and protein expression of bone formation biomarkers through regulation of the BMP2 and Wnt signaling pathway in MC3T3-E1 cells. Compound 1 also suppressed the RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis of cultured mouse bone marrow cells. Oral administration of 1 restored the OVX-induced destruction of trabecular bone. The bone mineral density of the femur was also increased significantly by 1. The elevated serum levels of osteocalcin, C-terminal telopeptide, and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase in the OVX mice were decreased by treatment with 1. These findings suggest that compound 1 may protect against bone loss induced by OVX in mice by regulating stimulation of osteoblast differentiation and inhibition of osteoclast resorption. Therefore, harpagoside (1) is a potential candidate for management of postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bone Density / drug effects
  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 / metabolism
  • Bone Resorption / metabolism
  • Cell Differentiation / drug effects
  • Female
  • Femur / drug effects
  • Glycosides / chemistry
  • Glycosides / pharmacology*
  • Harpagophytum / chemistry*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Molecular Structure
  • Osteoblasts / drug effects*
  • Osteoblasts / metabolism
  • Osteocalcin / analysis
  • Osteocalcin / blood
  • Osteoclasts / drug effects*
  • Osteoclasts / metabolism
  • Osteogenesis / drug effects
  • Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / drug therapy*
  • Pyrans / chemistry
  • Pyrans / pharmacology*
  • RANK Ligand / metabolism
  • RANK Ligand / pharmacology
  • Republic of Korea
  • Transcriptional Activation
  • Up-Regulation
  • Wnt Signaling Pathway / physiology*

Substances

  • BMP2 protein, human
  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2
  • Glycosides
  • Pyrans
  • RANK Ligand
  • TNFSF11 protein, human
  • Osteocalcin
  • harpagoside