Influence of partially purified extracts of Solanum malacoxylon on bone resorption in organ culture.

Abstract

The water-soluble active principle of the plantSolanum malacoxylon (SM) was partially purified by column chromatography, and its bone-resorbing activity was tested by using an organ culture system of 18-day fetal mouse fibulae prelabeled with45Ca. Three series of experiments were performed. In the first series, the aqueous extract of SM was submitted to Sephadex G-25 chromatography to separate the active substances. From six collected fractions only two exhibited reproducible bone-resorbing activity as indicated by an increased release of45Ca from bone rudiments. In the second series, the active fractions were combined and lyophilized to a powder which was dissolved in the culture media to obtain the concentrations of 5, 25, 50, and 100 μg/ml. The addition of this saltfree material resulted in a dose-related accentuation of45Ca release from fetal mouse bones into the medium. Histologically, the treated fibulae showed greater numbers of osteoclasts than the controls and a disappearance of bone trabeculae. In the third series, the active material was further purified on Sephadex LH-20 column. From four collected fractions, only one showed bone-resorbing activity in vitro. It is concluded that the purified active factor of SM exerts a direct effect on bone. It stimulates the mobilization of bone calcium in vitro by increasing the population of osteoclasts. The nature of the active principle remains unknown.