Benincasa hispida Extract Promotes Proliferation, Differentiation, and Mineralization of MC3T3-E1 Preosteoblasts and Inhibits the Differentiation of RAW 246.7 Osteoclast Precursors

Abstract

Owing to global population aging, instances of bone metabolic diseases have increased. Consequently, interest in natural and functional plant food products for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis is also increasing. In this study, we determine the potential therapeutic effects of Benincasa hispida extract (HR1901-W) on osteoblast and osteoclast differentiation. The potential preventive effects of Benincasa hispida in osteoporosis have not previously been reported. We identified and analyzed 2-furoic acid, a chemical component of HR1901-W. We evaluated whether HR1901-W promoted osteogenesis in the MC3T3-E1 cell line and whether it inhibited the differentiation of RAW 264.7 macrophage cells (osteoblast precursors). We observed that HR1901-W promoted significantly high dose-dependent proliferation and extracellular matrix mineralization in MC3T3-E1 cells. In fact, increased cell proliferation was found to be associated with increased protein expression of factors related to osteoblast differentiation, including alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, and runt-related transcription factor 2. On the other hand, macrophage colony-stimulating factor (10 ng/mL) and nuclear factor-κB ligand (100 ng/mL) treated differentiated RAW264.7 macrophages exhibited a significant reduction in tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase activity. Taken together, our results indicate that HR1901-W is a promising candidate of functional materials that regulate the balance between bone-forming osteoblasts and bone-resorbing osteoclasts to prevent osteoporosis.