Comparison of chemical compositions and osteoprotective effects of different sections of velvet antler

Traditional knowledge of animal-derived medicines used by Gelao community in Northern Guizhou, China

INTRODUCTION

This study aims to document and preserve the traditional medicinal knowledge of the Gelao community in Northern Guizhou, China, providing valuable insights for modern pharmacological research and the development of these traditional remedies.

METHODS

Our methodology encompassed a blend of literature review, community interviews, and participatory observation to delve into the traditional knowledge of animal-derived medicines among the Gelao community. We employed quantitative ethnological and ecological assessment techniques to evaluate the significance of these practices. Informed consent was secured before conducting interviews, with a focus on ascertaining the types of medicines familiar to the informants, including their local names, sources, methods of preparation, application techniques, diseases treated, frequency of use, and safety considerations.

RESULTS

Our research cataloged 55 varieties of animal-derived medicines utilized by the Gelao people. Out of these, 34 originate from wild animals, mainly encompassing small insects, reptiles, and aquatic species; the remaining 21 are derived from domesticated animals, largely involving their tissues, organs, and various physiological or pathological by-products. These medicines are primarily applied in treating pediatric ailments (13 types), internal disorders (11 types), gynecological issues (3 types), dermatological problems (7 types), ENT conditions (3 types), trauma-related injuries (5 types), joint and bone ailments (5 types), infections (2 types), dental issues (2 types), and urolithiasis (1 type), with three types being used for other miscellaneous conditions. Commonly utilized medicines, such as honey, Blaps beetle, chicken gallstones, and snake-based products, are preferred for their availability, edibility, and safety within the Gelao communities.

CONCLUSION

The Gelao community's traditional medicines represent a rich diversity of animal sources, showcasing extensive expertise and knowledge in their processing and clinical applications. This wealth of traditional knowledge offers novel perspectives for the contemporary pharmacological study and development of these remedies. Additionally, our research plays a crucial role in aiding the preservation and continuation of this invaluable cultural heritage.

The Role of Herbal Medicine in Modulating Bone Homeostasis

Osteoporosis and other bone diseases are a major public health concern worldwide. Current pharmaceutical treatments for bone disorders have limitations, driving interest in complementary herbal medicines that can help maintain bone health. This review summarizes the scientific evidence for medicinal herbs that modulate bone cell activity and improve bone mass, quality and strength. Herbs with osteogenic, anti-osteoporotic, and anti-osteoclastic effects are discussed, including compounds and mechanisms of action. Additionally, this review examines the challenges and future directions for translational research on herbal medicines for osteoporosis and bone health. While preliminary research indicates beneficial bone bioactivities for various herbs, rigorous clinical trials are still needed to verify therapeutic efficacy and safety. Further studies should also elucidate synergistic combinations, bioavailability of active phytochemicals, and precision approaches to match optimal herbs with specific etiologies of bone disease. Advancing evidence- based herbal medicines may provide novel alternatives for promoting bone homeostasis and treating skeletal disorders.

Velvet antler water extract protects porcine oocytes from lipopolysaccharide-induced meiotic defects

Previous studies have demonstrated that lipopolysaccharide (LPS), as a central toxic factor of gram-negative bacteria, can induce oxidative stress and cellular inflammation to result in the impairment of female fertility in different organisms. Particularly, it has harmful effects on the oocyte quality and subsequent embryonic development. However, the approach concerning how to prevent oocytes from LPS-induced deterioration still remains largely unexplored. We assessed the effective influences of velvet antler water extract (VAWE) by immunostaining and fluorescence intensity quantification on the meiotic maturation, mitochondrial function and sperm binding ability of oocytes under oxidative stress. Here, we report that VAWE treatment restores the quality of porcine oocytes exposed to LPS. Specifically, LPS exposure contributed to the failed oocyte maturation, reduced sperm binding ability and fertilization capability by disturbing the dynamics and arrangement of meiotic apparatuses and organelles, including spindle assembly, chromosome alignment, actin polymerization, mitochondrial dynamics and cortical granule distribution, the indicators of oocyte nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation. Notably, VAWE treatment recovered these meiotic defects by removing the LPS-induced excessive ROS and thus inhibiting the apoptosis. Collectively, our study illustrates that VAWE treatment is a feasible strategy to improve the oocyte quality deteriorated by the LPS-induced oxidative stress.

Health Effects of Peptides Extracted from Deer Antler

Deer antler is widely used as a nutraceutical in Asian countries. In the past decades, deer antler peptides (DAPs) have received considerable attention because of their various biological properties such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-bone damage, anti-neurological disease, anti-tumor and immunomodulatory properties. This review describes the production methods of DAPs and the recent progress of research on DAPs, focusing on the physiological functions and their regulatory mechanisms.

Peptide-Calcium Chelate from Antler (Cervus elaphus) Bone Enhances Calcium Absorption in Intestinal Caco-2 Cells and D-gal-Induced Aging Mouse Model

Antler bone calcium (AB−Ca) and bioactive peptides (ABPs) were extracted from antler bones (Cervus elaphus) to maximize their value. In this study, 0.14 g calcium was obtained from 1 g antler bone. The peptide−calcium chelate rate was 53.68 ± 1.80%, and the Gly, Pro, and Glu in ABPs were identified to donate most to the increased calcium affinity through the mass spectrometry. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed that calcium predominantly interacted with amino nitrogen atoms and carboxyl oxygen atoms, thereby generating a peptide–calcium chelate. The peptide−calcium chelates were characterized using scanning electron microscopy. A Caco-2 cell monolayer model showed that ABPs significantly increased calcium transport. Furthermore, the D-gal-induced aging mouse model indicated that the ABPs + AB−Ca group showed higher Ca and PINP levels, lower P, ALP, and CTX-1content in serum, and considerably higher tibia index and tibia calcium content. Results showed that ABPs + AB-Ca increased bone formation and inhibited bone resorption, thereby providing calcium supplements for ameliorating senile osteoporosis (SOP).

The first high-quality reference genome of sika deer provides insights for high-tannin adaptation

Sika deer are known to prefer oak leaves, which are rich in tannins and toxic to most mammals; however, the genetic mechanisms underlying their unique ability to adapt to living in the jungle are still unclear. In identifying the mechanism responsible for the tolerance of a highly toxic diet, we have made a major advancement by explaining the genomics of sika deer. We generated the first high-quality, chromosome-level genome assembly of sika deer and measured the correlation between tannin intake and RNA expression in 15 tissues through 180 experiments. Comparative genome analyses showed that the UGT and CYP gene families are functionally involved in the adaptation of sika deer to high-tannin food, especially the expansion of the UGT family 2 subfamily B of UGT genes. The first chromosome-level assembly and genetic characterization of the tolerance to a highly toxic diet suggest that the sika deer genome may serve as an essential resource for understanding evolutionary events and tannin adaptation. Our study provides a paradigm of comparative expressive genomics that can be applied to the study of unique biological features in non-model animals.

Use of Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking Technology to Analyze the Mechanism of Action of Velvet Antler in the Treatment of Postmenopausal Osteoporosis

Deer velvet antlers are the young horns of male deer that are not ossified and densely overgrown. Velvet antler and its preparations have been widely used in the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP) in recent years, although its mechanism of action in the human body remains unclear. To screen the effective ingredients and targets of velvet antler in the treatment of PMOP using network pharmacology and to explore the potential mechanisms of velvet antler action in such treatments, we screened the active ingredients and targets of velvet antler in the BATMAN-TCM database. We also screened the relevant targets of PMOP in the GeneCards and OMIM databases and then compared the targets at the intersection of both velvet antler and PMOP. We used Cytoscape 3.7.2 software to construct a network diagram of "disease-drug-components-targets" and a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network through the STRING database and screened out the core targets; the R language was then used to analyze the shared targets between antler and PMOP for GO-enrichment analysis and KEGG pathway-annotation analysis. Furthermore, we used the professional software Maestro 11.1 to verify the predictive analysis based on network pharmacology. Hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining and micro-CT were used to observe the changes in trabecular bone tissue, further confirming the results of network pharmacological analysis. The potentially effective components of velvet antler principally include 17β-E2, adenosine triphosphate, and oestrone. These components act on key target genes such as AKT1, IL6, MAPK3, TP53, EGFR, SRC, and TNF and regulate the PI3K/Akt-signaling and MAPK-signaling pathways. These molecules participate in a series of processes such as cellular differentiation, apoptosis, metabolism, and inflammation and can ultimately be used to treat PMOP; they reflect the overall regulation, network regulation, and protein interactions.

Anti-tumour activity of deer growing antlers and its potential applications in the treatment of malignant gliomas

A recent study showed that antlers have evolved a high rate of growth due to the expression of proto-oncogenes and that they have also evolved to express several tumour suppressor genes to control the risk of cancer. This may explain why deer antler velvet (DAV) extract shows anti-tumour activity. The fast growth of antler innervation through the velvet in close association to blood vessels provides a unique environment to study the fast but non-cancerous proliferation of heterogeneous cell populations. We set out to study the anti-cancer effect of DAV in glioblastoma (GB) cell lines in comparison with temozolomide, a chemotherapeutic drug used to treat high-grade brain tumours. Here we report, for the first time, that DAV extract from the tip, but not from mid-parts of the antler, exhibits an anti-tumour effect in GB cell lines (T98G and A172) while being non-toxic in non-cancerous cell lines (HEK293 and HACAT). In T98G cells, DAV treatment showed reduced proliferation (37.5%) and colony-formation capacity (84%), inhibited migration (39%), induced changes in cell cycle progression, and promoted apoptosis. The anticancer activity of DAV extract as demonstrated by these results may provide a new therapeutic strategy for GB treatment.

Chemical Constituents, Antioxidant Activities, and Element Concentrations of Rusa Deer Velvet Antler Extracts

The objective of this study was to analyze hexane extract (HE), 75% $v/v$ ethanol extract (EE), and water extract (WE) of rusa deer velvet antlers, obtained through a three-solvent sequential extraction, for determining their chemical constituents, antioxidant activities, element concentrations, and microbial contamination. In TLC, FTIR, 1H NMR, and HPLC analysis, HE and EE showed the presence of oleic acid, linoleic acid, alpha-linolenic acid, and testosterone. EE showed the highest concentration of testosterone and the strongest antioxidant activity in DPPH and FRAP assays. In addition, the concentration of testosterone in EE was higher than in sika deer and red deer velvet antler extracts found in other studies. All extracts were composed of essential elements and had levels of toxic elements and microbial contaminants lower than the acceptable criteria set by ASEAN guidelines. Thus, EE was considered to be a safe and useful source of antioxidants and testosterone.

Investigation of Anti-Fatigue Effect and Simultaneous Determination of Eight Nucleosides in Different Parts of Velvet Antler in Red Deer and Sika Deer

Velvet antler (VA) is crucial and precious nourishment in China and some countries in Southeast Asia and has excellent anti-fatigue effect. The incidence of fatigue syndrome has increased gradually. VA can be a potential source of anti-fatigue products. Therefore, we investigated the anti-fatigue activity of different sections (upper, middle, and basal section) of VA from different species (red deer and sika deer) via loading swimming test in mice. Furthermore, nucleosides are one kind of active components in VA which could considerably reduce fatigue in mice. In order to explore whether the nucleosides are correlated with anti-fatigue effect, the contents of eight nucleosides (uracil, cytidine, hypoxanthine, xanthine, thymine, inosine, guanosine, and adenosine) were determined simultaneously using high-performance liquid chromatography. The results indicated that the swimming time in mice was increased from basal to upper section, which was consistent with the change trend of the total contents of eight nucleosides of VA. Therefore, we speculated that the contents of nucleosides in VA may affect its anti-fatigue effect. Furthermore, the contents of nucleosides were also used as a reference for evaluating the quality of different parts of VA obtained from red and sika deer.

Effects of an antler velvet-based natural compound on osteoporosis in a rodent model

Context Velvet antlers (VA) are claimed to have the effects on osteoporosis in traditional Chinese medicine. Aims So as to scientifically confirm this claim, a VA-based compound (VAC, the mixture of upper part of VA, deer blood, and calcined oyster shell powder in a ratio of 4:1:1) was produced and administered to osteoporotic model rats, with osteoporosis being induced by retinoic acid via gavage. Methods In total, 48 rats were used and divided into six groups (8/group). Concentrations of alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin in the rat serum were measured, and bone ash weight, concentrations of calcium and phosphorus in rat femur were measured. Bone biomechanical test was performed using a computer-controlled three-point bending tester. Ratio of trabecular bone area to tissue area in a given view field of the femoral tissue section was histologically examined and calculated. Bone histomorphometry was measured using micro-CT. Key results No significant difference was found between the VAC-treated groups and the positive control (alendronate sodium) on the basis of the following tested parameters: (1) levels of alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin in rat serum; (2) maximum load value (N) of femur and maximum compression force of lumbar vertebra; (3) concentrations of calcium and phosphorus in femur; (4) ratio of trabecular bone area to tissue area; and (5) bone histomorphometry. Conclusions Effects of VAC used in the present study on osteoporosis in the model rats were comparable to the alendronate sodium (western medicine for treating osteoporosis) on the basis of our selected parameters. Implications This compound has the potential to be developed as an effective traditional Chinese medicine for clinic use to treat osteoporosis.

Reclassification of velvet antler portions following transcriptomic analysis

Context Commercially, velvet antlers along the longitudinal axis are divided into four portions, namely, wax-like (WL), blood-colour (BC), honeycomb-like (HL) and bone (B) slices from the top to the base. However, there is no evidence at a molecular level showing the accuracy of this classification. Aims The aim of the present study was to take transcriptional approach to assess the accuracy of the traditional classification for these four portions of velvet antler, and to link the expressed mRNAs of each portion with possible functions by using bioinformatics analysis. Methods Three sticks of three-branched velvet antlers of sika deer were harvested from three anaesthetised 4-year-old sika deer. On the basis of the traditional methods used commercially, the velvet antler sticks were divided into the four portions of WL, BC, HL and B. Transcriptome sequencing was performed using Illumina HiSeq × Ten at BGI (Shenzheng, China). Key results In total, 5647 genes were obtained from the four portions. Spearman correlation analysis grouped these four portions into three clusters (WL, BC, HL+B). C-means analysis further confirmed a similar trend, indicating the accuracy of the new classification based on transcriptome analysis. Further functional analysis showed that highly expressed genes in WL, BC and HL+B were mainly related to cell cycle, cartilage development, and bone development respectively. Conclusions Four-portion classification based on traditional methods should be replaced by three-portion classification based on the mRNA expression levels. Implications We believe that this new classification can contribute to velvet antler industry, providing more accuracy in the use of velvet antlers as pharmaceuticals.

Therapeutic Anabolic and Anticatabolic Benefits of Natural Chinese Medicines for the Treatment of Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a bone disease characterized by increasing osseous fragility and fracture due to the reduced bone mass and microstructural degradation. Primary pharmacological strategies for the treatment of osteoporosis, hormone replacement treatment (HRT), and alendronate therapies may produce adverse side-effects and may not be recommended for long-term usage. Some classic and bone-specific natural Chinese medicine are very popularly used to treat osteoporosis and bone fracture effectively in clinical with their potential value in bone growth and development, but with few adverse side-effects. Current evidence suggests that the treatments appear to improve bone metabolism and attenuate the osteoporotic imbalance between bone formation and bone resorption at a cellular level by promoting osteoblast activity and inhibiting the effects of osteoclasts. The valuable therapies might, therefore, provide an effective and safer alternative to primary pharmacological strategies. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to comprehensively review these classic and bone-specific drugs in natural Chinese medicines for the treatment of osteoporosis that had been deeply and definitely studied and reported with both bone formation and antiresorption effects, including Gynochthodes officinalis (F.C.How) Razafim. & B.Bremer (syn. Morinda officinalis F.C.How), Curculigo orchioides Gaertn., Psoralea corylifolia (L.) Medik Eucommia ulmoides Oliv., Dipsacus inermis Wall. (syn. Dipsacus asperoides C.Y.Cheng & T.M.Ai), Cibotium barometz (L.) J. Sm., Velvet Antler, Cistanche deserticola Ma, Cuscuta chinensis Lam., Cnidium monnieri (L.) Cusson, Epimedium brevicornum Maxim, Pueraria montana (Lour.) Merr. and Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge., thus providing evidence for the potential use of alternative Chinese medicine therapies to effectively treat osteoporosis.

Hypoglycemic activity of CPU2206: A novel peptide from sika (Cervus nippon Temminck) antler

Previous work had extracted and purified an antidiabetic peptide named CPU2206 with 7,127.6 Da. In this work, the toxicity of CPU2206 was first evaluated by daily administration to ICR mice, and after 28 days of administration, the body weight and lipid metabolism of the mice did not change significantly, which proved its safety and reliability. Second, further studies have focused on its hypoglycemic effects by daily intraperitoneal injection to alloxan-induced diabetic mice and KK-Ay mice, showing that CPU2206 effectively decreased the blood glucose and corresponding indicators of diabetic mice. Daily administration of CPU2206 nearly normalized the lipid metabolic parameters in diabetic mice. Histological examination also validated that CPU2206 ameliorated the pancreas injuries induced by alloxan or alleviated islet hypertrophy caused by insulin resistance in KK-Ay mice. To sum up, a totally new bioactive peptide CPU2206 obtained from sika antler showed significantly antidiabetic as well as lipid-lowering effects in diabetic mice. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Antler has been used as a traditional Chinese medicine to invigorate primordial energy, enrich the blood, strengthen bones, and improve both male and female sexual functions for thousands of years. Traditionally, velvet antler can be grinded directly and taken orally, or used in porridge, wine and meat stew. Our experiment enriches the research on the function of edible antlers, provides the basis for developing it into functional health food, and on the other hand, provides an idea for finding new antidiabetic drugs.

Suppression of miR-451a accelerates osteogenic differentiation and inhibits bone loss via Bmp6 signaling during osteoporosis

Bone homeostasis is known as a dynamic balance, including bone formation through osteoblasts and bone resorption by osteoclasts. MicroRNAs (miRs) play a critical role in regulating bone formation and homeostasis. In the study, the effects of miR-451a on bone homeostasis were investigated. The results indicated that the primary osteoblasts and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), as the main source of osteoblasts, isolated from miR-451a-knockout (KO) mice showed promoted osteogenesis. in vivo, an ovariectomized (OVX) animal model was used to further explore the effect of miR-451a on osteoporosis. Micro-computed tomography (μCT) indicated a promoted bone volume in miR-451a-KO mice compared to wild-type (WT) mice after OVX operation, demonstrating a redundant bone formation after the knockout of miR-451a. Importantly, we for the first time found that bone morphogenetic protein 6 (Bmp6) was a direct target of miR-451a, elevating bone formation through regulating SMAD1/5/8 expression. In conclusion, reducing miR-451a expression levels could enhance bone formation during the progression of osteoporosis, which might be at least partly via the meditation of Bmp6 expression.

Quantification of Furosine (Nε-(2-Furoylmethyl)-l-lysine) in Different Parts of Velvet Antler with Various Processing Methods and Factors Affecting Its Formation

Furosine (Nε-(2-furoylmethyl)-l-lysine) is formed during the early stages of the Maillard reaction from a lysine Amadori compound and is frequently used as a marker of reaction progress. Furosine is toxic, with significant effects on animal livers, kidneys, and other organs. However, reports on the formation of furosine in processed velvet antler are scarce. In this study, we have quantified the furosine content in processed velvet antler by using UPLC-MS/MS. The furosine contents of velvet antler after freeze-drying, boiling, and processing without and with blood were 148.51–193.93, 168.10–241.22, 60.29–80.33, and 115.18–138.99 mg/kg protein, respectively. The factors affecting furosine formation in processed velvet antler, including reducing sugars, proteins, amino acids, and process temperature, are discussed herein. Proteins, amino acids, and reducing sugars are substrates for the Maillard reaction and most significantly influence the furosine content in the processed velvet antler. High temperatures induce the production of furosine in boiled velvet antler but not in the freeze-dried samples, whereas more furosine is produced in velvet antler processed with blood, which is rich in proteins, amino acids, and reducing sugars, than in the samples processed without blood. Finally, wax slices rich in proteins, amino acids, and reducing sugars produced more furosine than the other parts of the velvet antler. These data provide a reference for guiding the production of low-furosine velvet antler and can be used to estimate the consumer intake of furosine from processed velvet antler.

Simultaneous Determination of Nε-(carboxymethyl) Lysine and Nε-(carboxyethyl) Lysine in Different Sections of Antler Velvet after Various Processing Methods by UPLC-MS/MS

N^ε-(Carboxymethyl) lysine (CML) and N^ε-(carboxyethyl) advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) and are frequently used as markers of AGE formation. AGEs, such as CML and CEL, have harmful effects in the human body and have been closely linked to many diseases such as diabetes and uremia. However, details on the contents of CML and CEL after applying different antler velvet processing methods are lacking. In this research, a robust lysine (CEL) are two typical UPLC-MS/MS method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of CML and CEL in various sections of antler velvet processed with different methods. In addition, factors affecting the CML and CEL contents are discussed. The CML contents of antler velvet after freeze-drying, boiling, processing without blood, and processing with blood were 74.55–458.59, 119.44–570.69, 75.36–234.92, and 117.11–456.01 μg/g protein, respectively; the CEL contents were 0.74–12.66, 11.33–35.93, 0.00–6.75, and 0.00–23.41 μg/g protein, respectively. The different contents of CML and CEL in the different samples of antler velvet result from the different interactions of the protein and lysine at different temperatures. These data can be used to estimate the potential consumer intake of CML and CEL from antler velvet and for guiding producers on how to reduce the production of CML and CEL.

Comparison of anti-inflammatory effect and protein profile between the water extracts from Formosan sambar deer and red deer

Velvet antler (VA), the unossified antler from members of the family Cervidae, has been used in traditional Chinese medicines and health foods for over 2000 years in enhancement of kidney function and treatment or prevention of cardiovascular, immunological and gynaecological disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of velvet antler water extracts from Formosan sambar deer (Rusa unicolor swinhoei, SVAE) and red deer (Cervus elaphus, RVAE). Results indicated that both SVAE and RVAE significantly reduced the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α ) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) productions in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells at concentrations above 200 μg mL⁻¹. SVAE seems to demonstrate a better anti-inflammatory effect than that of RVAE in vitro. Both SVAE and RAVE also enhanced the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. The results of MTT assay indicated that SVAE and RVAE did not exhibit any cytotoxicity in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Two-dimensional (2D) gel electrophoresis analysis revealed that the levels of 6 specific proteins were different between these two velvet antlers samples. Furthermore, the storage period was the major factor affecting the anti-inflammatory activity of SAVE. In this study, we demonstrated the difference of anti-inflammatory effect and the protein profile between SVAE and RVAE. SVAE showed better anti-inflammatory potential than RVAE. In the future, the anti-inflammatory active components and their related mechanisms should be further investigated.

Protective effects of Cervus nippon Temminck velvet antler polypeptides against MPP+‑induced cytotoxicity in SH‑SY5Y neuroblastoma cells

The aim of the present study was to examine the protective effects and mechanism of sika deer (Cervus nippon Temminck) velvet antler polypeptides (VAPs) against MPP⁺ exposure in the SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cell line. MPP⁺ cytotoxicity and the protective effects of VAPs on the SH-SY5Y cells were determined using an MTT assay. Cell apoptosis and mitochondrial membrane potential were detected using Hoechst 33342 and Rhodamine123 staining, respectively. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-related reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in the SH-SY5Y cells was detected using 2′,7′-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate fluorescent probes. The expression levels of proteins, including caspase-12, glucose regulated protein 78 (GRP78), CCAAT/enhancer binding protein homologous protein (CHOP) and phosphorylated c-Jun N-terminal kinase (p-JNK) were detected using western blot analysis. The results showed that the half inhibitory concentration of MPP⁺ at 72 h was 120.9 µmol/l, and that 62.5, 125, and 250 µg/ml concentrations of VAPs protected the SH-SY5Y cells under MPP⁺ exposure. When exposed to 120.9 µmol/l MPP⁺, changes in cell nucleus morphology, mitochondrial membrane potential and intracellular ROS were observed. VAPs at concentrations of 62.5, 125, 250 µg/ml reduced this damage. Western blot analysis showed that protein expression levels of caspase-12, GRP78 and p-JNK were upregulated in the SH-SY5Y cells exposed to 120.9 µmol/l MPP⁺ for 72 h. In addition, 62.5, 125, and 250 µg/ml VAPs downregulated the expression levels of caspase-12 and p-JNK in a concentration- dependent manner, particularly the p-JNK pathway. The effects of VAPs on GRP78 and CHOP were weak. In conclusion, MPP⁺-induced SH-SY5Y cell death may be linked to ER stress. VAPs prevented MPP⁺-induced SH-SY5Y cell death by affecting the p-JNK pathway and caspase-12-mediated apoptosis. These findings assist in understanding the mechanism underlying the protective effect of VAPs on neurons.

Cornu cervi pantotrichum supplementation improves physiological adaptions during intensive endurance training

Cornu cervi pantotrichum (CCP), used in traditional Chinese medicine, is a well-known yang-invigorating agent with multifunctional bioactivities. We previously showed, through an acute exercise challenge, that short-term CCP supplementation improved physical activities and fatigue-associated biochemical indices. Questions about the long-term effects of CCP treatment on exercise performance and physical fatigue, as well as safety, with intensive exercise training need further research. ICR-strain mice were randomly assigned to three groups: (1) sedentary control and vehicle treatment (SC); (2) exercise training with vehicle treatment (ET); and (3) ET with CCP treatment at 4,108 mg/kg/day (ET+CCP). We assessed the physical performance, body compositions, and serum levels of lactate, ammonia, glucose and creatine kinase (CK) after an acute exercise challenge. The ET and ET+CCP groups had significantly increased grip strength and endurance swimming time, and decreased serum lactate and ammonia levels after the acute exercise challenge than the SC group. Moreover, serum ammonia and CK levels in the ET+CCP group were significantly decreased when compared to that of the ET only group. In regard to the body composition, the ET+CCP group inhibits the decrease in fat tissue, and related biochemical changes induced by the high intensity endurance training CCP supplementation combined with high-intensity endurance exercise could significantly improve the physiological adaptions related to fatigue or energy consumption and maintain the fat composition when compared to treatment with training only. Therefore, CCP may potentially improve the physiological adaptions in intensive exercise training.

In quest of optimal drug-supported and targeted bone regeneration in the cranio facial area: a review of techniques and methods

Craniofacial bone structures are frequently and extensively affected by trauma, tumors, bone infections and diseases, age-related degeneration and atrophy, as well as congenital malformations and developmental anomalies. Consequently, severe encumbrances are imposed on both patients and healthcare systems due to the complex and lengthy treatment duration. The search for alternative methods to bone transplantation, grafting and the use of homologous or heterologous bone thus responds to one of the most significant problems in human medicine. This review focuses on the current consensus of bone-tissue engineering in the craniofacial area with emphasis on drug-induced stem cell differentiation and induced bone regeneration.

Effects of Hot Water Extracts from Polygonum multiflorum on Ovariectomy Induced Osteopenia in Mice

Polygonum multiflorum (PM), a traditional Chinese medicine, is used to treat various diseases including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and hyperlipidemia. However, the influence of PM on osteoporosis in animals is unclear. The present study investigated the antiosteoporotic effect of PM on bone mass in ovariectomized (OVX) mice and its possible mechanism of action. Twenty-five female C3H/HeN mice were divided into five groups of five mice as follows. Sham-operated control mice received daily oral gavage of an equal volume of water, and OVX mice received daily oral gavage of water or an injection of β-estradiol or PM for 6 weeks. Administration of PM significantly suppressed body weight and organs weight and increased weight and length of bone compared with the OVX group. Treatment with PM reversed osteopenia in OVX mice, thereby improving the bone morphometric parameters. Moreover, histological analysis using hematoxylin and eosin staining showed that PM inhibited OVX-induced bone loss. Serum estradiol and bone alkaline phosphatase levels were significantly decreased in the OVX group, with the levels increasing with PM treatment. In addition, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase activity was inhibited by PM in OVX mice. These results suggest that PM is effective in preventing bone loss in OVX mice.

Traditional Chinese medicine formulas for the treatment of osteoporosis: Implication for antiosteoporotic drug discovery

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Osteoporosis is a chronic epidemic which can leads to enhanced bone fragility and consequent an increase in fracture risk. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formulas have a long history of use in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. Antiosteoporotic TCM formulas have conspicuous advantage over single drugs. Systematic data mining of the existing antiosteoporotic TCM formulas database can certainly help the drug discovery processes and help the identification of safe candidates with synergistic formulations. In this review, the authors summarize the clinical use and animal experiments of TCM formulas and their mechanism of action, and discuss the potential antiosteoporotic activity and the active constituents of commonly used herbs in TCM formulas for the therapy of osteoporosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The literature was searched from Medline, Pubmed, ScienceDirect, Spring Link, Web of Science, CNKI and VIP database from 1989 to 2015, and also collected from Chinese traditional books and Chinese Pharmacopoeia with key words such as osteoporosis, osteoblast, osteoclast, traditional Chinese medicine formulas to identify studies on the antiosteoporotic effects of TCM formulas, herbs and chemical constituents, and also their possible mechanisms.

RESULTS

Thirty-three TCM formulas were commonly used to treat osteoporosis, and showed significant antiosteoporotic effects in human and animal. The herb medicines and their chemical constituents in TCM formulas were summarized, the pharmacological effects and chemical constituents of commonly used herbs in TCM formulas were described in detail. The action mechanisms of TCM formulas and their chemical constituents were described. Finally, the implication for the discovery of antiosteoporotic leads and combinatory ingredients from TCM formulas were prospectively discussed.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinical practice and animal experiments indicate that TCM formulas provide a definite therapeutic effect on osteoporosis. The active constituents in TCM formulas are diverse in chemical structure, and include flavonoids, lignans, saponins and iridoid glycosides. Antiosteoporotic mechanism of TCM formulas and herbs involves multi regulatory pathways, such as Wnt/β-catenin, BMP/Smad, MAPK pathway and RANKL/OPG system. Phytochemicals from TCM formulas and their compositional herb medicines offer great potential for the development of novel antiosteoporotic drugs. The active ingredients in TCM formulas can be developed in combination as potent drugs, which may exhibit better antiosteoporotic effects compared to the individual compound.

Comparison of the Effect of Velvet Antler from Different Sections on Longitudinal Bone Growth of Adolescent Rats

The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of velvet antler (VA) from different sections for promoting longitudinal bone growth in growing rats. VA was divided into upper (VAU), middle (VAM), and basal sections (VAB). An in vivo study was performed to examine the effect on longitudinal bone growth in adolescent rats. In addition, in vitro osteogenic activities were examined using osteoblastic MG-63 cells. VA promoted longitudinal bone growth and height of the growth plate in adolescent rats. Bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) in growth plate of VA group was highly expressed compared with control. The anabolic effect of VA on bone was further supported by in vitro study. VA enhanced the proliferation, differentiation, and mineralization of MG-63 cells. The mRNA expressions of osteogenic genes such as collagen, alkaline phosphatase, and osteocalcin were increased by VA treatment. These effects of in vivo and in vitro study were decreased from upper to basal sections of VA. In conclusion, VA treatment promotes longitudinal bone growth in growing rats through enhanced BMP-2 expression, osteogenic activities, and bone matrix gene expressions. In addition, present study provides evidence for the regional differences in the effectiveness of velvet antler for longitudinal bone growth.

The Protective Effects of Alisol A 24-Acetate from Alisma canaliculatum on Ovariectomy Induced Bone Loss in Vivo

Alisma canaliculatum is a herb commonly used in traditional Korean medicine, and has been shown in scientific studies to have antitumor, diuretic hepatoprotective, and antibacterial effects. Recently, the anti-osteoclastogenesis of alisol A 24-acetate from Alisma canaliculatum was investigated in vitro. However, the influence of alisol A 24-acetate on osteoporosis in animals has not been investigated. The present study was undertaken to investigate the anti-osteoporotic effect of alisol A 24-acetate on bone mass in ovariectomized (OVX) mice and to identify the mechanism responsible for its effects. OVX mice were treated daily with 0.5 or 2 μg/g of alisol A 24-acetate for a period of six weeks. It was found that these administrations significantly suppressed osteoporosis in OVX mice and improved bone morphometric parameters. The serum estradiol, bone alkaline phosphatase levels, regulatory T/Th17 cell numbers were significantly increased by alisol A 24-acetate as compared with untreated OVX mice. In addition, TRAP activity was inhibited by alisol A 24-acetate in OVX mice. These results suggest alisol A 24-acetate effectively prevents bone loss in OVX mice, and that it can be considered a potential therapeutic for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Total velvet-antler polypeptide extract from Cervus nippon Temminck induces cell proliferation and activation of the PI3K–Akt signalling pathway in human peripheral blood lymphocytes

Velvet antler (VA) has been used for centuries as a traditional medicine to treat a wide range of health problems. VA was first recorded in the Chinese medical classics Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing 2000 years ago. VA has been extensively used to strengthen bones and muscles, promote blood flow and increase immune function. In the present study, we used VA (Cervus nippon Temminck) protein extract (VAPE) to induce cell proliferation and differentiation in human peripheral blood lymphocyte cell line 1301 cells. The results showed that 100 µg/mL of VAPE could significantly induce 1301-cell proliferation (151.3%), increase the population of S-phase cells and increase the expression of CDK4. In addition, VAPE could effectively increase the expression levels of PI3K and Akt and activate PI3K–Akt signal pathway. These findings have provided novel insights into the further understanding of the molecular and signalling pathway mechanisms of VAPE in promoting proliferation of human peripheral blood lymphocyte cells.

Relationship between velvet antler ossification and PTH and androgen serum levels in Tarim Red deer (Cervus elaphus)

Ossification degree is one of the primary variables affecting the medicinal value of velvet antler. Multiple factors regulate the calcification of velvet antler. We studied the relationship between the ossification of velvet antlers and the serum levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH) and androgen (ADG) in Tarim red deer. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) and atomic absorption spectrometry demonstrated that the changes in serum PTH and ADG levels nearly paralleled antler ossification during Tarim red deer antler mineralization. These results suggest that regulating the levels of serum PTH and ADG could decrease the calcification rate of velvet antlers in Tarim red deer. We conclude that PTH might increase antler ossification via the cAMP signaling pathway, and ADG possesses the dual roles of promoting both antler ossification and growth in Tarim red deer. This study suggests that we might be able to artificially control antler ossification to improve its medical value via the PTH or/and ADG pathway. J. Exp. Zool. 323A: 696-703, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.