Marine algae extract attenuated osteoporosis in OVX mice, enhanced osteogenesis on human mesenchymal stem cells and promoted OPG expression

Abstract

Osteoporosis is an aging disease that weakens bones and increases risks of sudden and unexpected fractures. Effects of Marine Algae Extract (MAE) on bone formation and resorption remain unknown. We investigated whether MAE could enhance anti-osteoporosis and induce bone formation by using ovariectomized (OVX) mouse model and cultured human bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). With calcium content and other mineral elements, MAE attenuated osteoporosis by increasing secretions of osteocalcin and osteoprotegerin (OPG) in serum in OVX mice and resulted in the increasing level of the ratio of OPG to RANKL (P < .05, n = 3–5). MAE treatment 800 mg/kg also can reduce the gain of body weight in OVX mice about 10%. In vitro, MAE enhanced human MSCs osteogenic differentiation and inhibited adipogenesis via upregulation of transcriptional level of OPG (Day 4, P < .05, n = 3; Day 7, P < .001, n = 3). In conclusion, MAE has potential to prevent osteoporosis in vivo and in vitro.