In vitro bone inducing effects of Lentinula edodes (shiitake) water extract on human osteoblastic cell cultures

Ashraf Saif,Ulrike Lindequist,Kristian Wende

doi:10.1007/s13659-013-0070-3

Abstract

The effect of Lentinula edodes water extract (LE) on two osteoblastic cell cultures (HOS 58 and Saos-2) was investigated to determine if this edible medicinal mushroom has osteoinductive properties. Activity of alkaline phosphatase and mineralization were used as indicators for the vitality and maturation of the bone cells. Cultivation of human osteosarcoma cells HOS 58 for five days in presence of a serial dilution of the aqueous extract of L. edodes (0.8 μg/mL-125 μg/mL) resulted in a significant elevation of alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP) of the cells in comparison to untreated cells. Saos-2 cells, incubated with LE (20 μg/mL) and β-glycerol phosphate (2 mM) for 21 days, displayed a 2 fold level of mineralization than cells cultured soley with the positive control, β-glycerophosphate. The obtained results clearly indicate the activity of LE as a bone inducing agent in vitro. Therefore, the shiitake mushroom (L. edodes) deserves attention as a supportive dietary treatment or nutraceutical in the case of diseases accompanied with bone disorder, such as osteoporosis, osteopenia, and late complication of diabetes.

Highlights

Postmenopausal osteoporosis is a major age-related health problem for women
There are a multitude of herbs that are used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) formulas for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis[6]
Due to the established hypocholesterolemic effect of Lentinula edodes (LE) and the possible relationship between plasma cholesterol concentration and osteoporosis via cholesterol synthesis and bone-resorbing osteoclast cells activation use of the same pathway[24], we assumed that Lentinula edodes water extract (LE) would modulate bone cells as well

Summary

Introduction

Postmenopausal osteoporosis is a major age-related health problem for women. The cause may be due to negative calcium balance due to dietary insufficiency, or decreased intestinal calcium absorption, as well as increase in urinary calcium loss associated with estrogen deficiency during menopause[1]. The presented study was conducted to show evidence of in vitro osteoinductive effect, to extend our bioprospecting of this medicinal mushroom and to confirm whether or not Lentinula edodes extract (LE) exerts osteoinductive effects on osteoblastic cell in vitro. Due to the established hypocholesterolemic effect of Lentinula edodes (LE) and the possible relationship between plasma cholesterol concentration and osteoporosis via cholesterol synthesis and bone-resorbing osteoclast cells activation use of the same pathway[24], we assumed that LE would modulate bone cells as well.

Results

Conclusion