Objective: To investigate the effects of ipriflavone (IPF), a synthetic isoflavone plant oestrogen with a structure similar to that of oestradiol, on the osteogenic differentiation of bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs).
Methods: BMSCs were derived from ovariectomised rats (rBMSCs-OVX) and then induced with or without IPF. Cell cytotoxicity, mineralisation in vitro and osteoblast-specific gene expression of BMSCs were studied.
Results: IPF at a concentration of 10-8, 10-7 and 10-6 mol/l exhibited no cytotoxic effect on the proliferation of BMSCs but increased alkaline phosphatase activity and osteoblast-specific gene expression.
Conclusion: IPF enhances osteogenic differentiation of rBMSCs-OVX partly in vitro, thus its use offers a potential strategy for the treatment of osteoporosis.
Keywords: ipriflavone; mesenchymal stem cells; osteogenic differentiation; osteoporosis.