The biologic effects of safflower(Carthamus tinctorius Linne') extract and Dipsasi Radix extract on periodontal ligament cells and osteoblastic cells

Rhyu, In Chul; Lee, Yong Moo; Ku, Young; Bae, Ki Whan; Chung, Chong Pyoung

Abstract

Safflower(Carthamus tinctorius Linne'has been traditionally used for the treatment of blood stasis, and Dipsasi Radix has been used as a drug for fracture in Chinese medicine. The purpose of present study was to examine the biologic effects of safflower extract and Disasi radix extracts on the periodontal ligament cells and osteoblastic cells and on the wound healing of rat calvarial defect. The ethanolic extract of safflower blossom, safflower seed and Dipsasi Radix(125, 250, and 500 microgram/ml) were prepared as test group, and PDGF-BB(10ng/ml) and unsafonifiable fraction of Zea Mays L.(125, 250, and 500 microgram/ml) were employed as positive control. The effects of each agents on the growth and survival, ALPase activity, expression of PDGF-BB receptor, chemotactic response of PDL cell and ATCC human osteosarcoma MG63 cells in vitro were examined. The tissue regenerative effect of each extracts was evaluated by histomorphometric measuring of newly formed bone on the 8mm defect in rat calvaria after oral administration of 3 different dosages groups : 0.02, 0.1 and 0.35g/kg, per day. It was also employed the same dosages of unsaponifiable fraction of Zea Mays L. as positive controls. Safflower blossom extract, safflower seed extract, and Dipsasi Radix extract stimulate the cellular activity of MG63 cells in concentration range of 125-500microgram/ml, and safflower bolssom extract and safflower seed extract stimulate also the cellular activity of periodontal ligament cells in concentration range of 250-500microgram/ml. In activity of ALPase, 250-500microgram/ml of safflower blossom extracts showed significant stimulating effects on MG63 cells, and the same concentration range of safflower seed extracts showed significant effect on periodontal ligament cells. In the recovery on PDGF-BB receptor expression which was depressed by IL-1beta, 125-250microgram/ml of safflower blossom extracts and 250-500microgram/ml of safflower seed extracts showed significant increasing effect on MG63 cells, and 500microgram/ml of safflower blossom extract and 250-500 microgram/ml of safflower seed extracts showed significant effect on periodontal ligament cells. In chemotactic response, among all tested group, safflower seed extracts only were chemotactic to MG63 cells and periodontal ligament cells in concentration range of 125-500 microgram/ml. Also in the view of bone regeneration in rat calvarial defect model, the only group that was orally administrated 0.35g/kg, day of safflower seed extract showed significant new bone formation. These results suggested that safflower extracts might have a potential possibilities as an useful drug for adjunct to treatment for regeneration of periodontal defect.