Germinated soy germ with increased soyasaponin Ab improves BMP-2-induced bone formation and protects against in vivo bone loss in osteoporosis

Effect of Tempeh and Daidzein on Calcium Status, Calcium Transporters, and Bone Metabolism Biomarkers in Ovariectomized Rats

Menopause marks a critical life stage characterized by hormonal changes that significantly impact bone health, leading to a heightened susceptibility to bone fractures. This research seeks to elucidate the impact of daidzein and tempeh on calcium status, calcium transporters, and bone metabolism in an ovariectomized rat model. Forty female Wistar rats, aged 3 months, participated in a two-phase experiment. The initial phase involved inducing a calcium deficit, while the second phase comprised dietary interventions across five groups: Sham (S) and Ovariectomy (O) with a standard diet, O with bisphosphonate (OB), O with pure daidzein (OD), and O with tempeh (OT). Multiple parameters, encompassing calcium levels, calcium transporters, bone histopathology, and serum bone metabolism markers, were evaluated. The findings revealed that the OT group showcased heightened levels of bone turnover markers, such as pyridinoline, C-telopeptide of type I collagen, bone alkaline phosphatase, and procollagen type I N-terminal propeptide, in contrast to S and O groups, with statistical significance (p < 0.05). Histopathologically, both the OD and OT groups exhibited effects akin to the OB group, indicating a decrease in the surface area occupied by adipocytes in the femoral bone structure, although statistically non-equivalent, supporting the directionally similar trends. Although TRPV5 and TRPV6 mRNA expression levels in the jejunum and duodenum did not display statistically significant differences (p > 0.05), the OD and OT groups exhibited increased expression compared to the O group. We hypothesized that obtained results may be related to the effect of isoflavones on estrogen pathways because of their structurally similar to endogenous estrogen and weak estrogenic properties. In conclusion, the daily consumption of pure daidzein and tempeh could potentially improve and reinstate calcium status, calcium transport, and bone metabolism in ovariectomized rats. Additionally, isoflavone products demonstrate effects similar to bisphosphonate drugs on these parameters in ovariectomized rats.

Effects of Triterpene Soyasapogenol B from Arachis hypogaea (Peanut) on Differentiation, Mineralization, Autophagy, and Necroptosis in Pre-Osteoblasts

Triterpenes are a diverse group of natural compounds found in plants. Soyasapogenol B (SoyB) from Arachis hypogaea (peanut) has various pharmacological properties. This study aimed to elucidate the pharmacological properties and mechanisms of SoyB in bone-forming cells. In the present study, 1–20 μM of SoyB showed no cell proliferation effects, whereas 30–100 μM of SoyB increased cell proliferation in MC3T3-E1 cells. Next, osteoblast differentiation was analyzed, and it was found that SoyB enhanced ALP staining and activity and bone mineralization. SoyB also induced RUNX2 expression in the nucleus with the increased phosphorylation of Smad1/5/8 and JNK2 during osteoblast differentiation. In addition, SoyB-mediated osteoblast differentiation was not associated with autophagy and necroptosis. Furthermore, SoyB increased the rate of cell migration and adhesion with the upregulation of MMP13 levels during osteoblast differentiation. The findings of this study provide new evidence that SoyB possesses biological effects in bone-forming cells and suggest a potentially beneficial role for peanut-based foods.

Soya saponin improves egg-laying performance and immune function of laying hens

BACKGROUND

Soya saponin (SS), an active compound in soybean meals, has been widely studied in the medical field. However, it was considered as an anti-nutritional factor in poultry diets. The objective of this experiment was to measure the effects of dietary SS using three dietary treatments on egg-laying performance and immune function of laying hens. Birds were fed a low soybean meal basal diet (CON), a low-SS diet (50 SS) containing 50 mg/kg SS, or a high-SS diet (500 SS) containing 500 mg/kg SS for 10 weeks. At the end of the 5th and 10th week of the trial, samples were collected for analysis.

RESULTS

Results showed that with 50 mg/kg SS supplementation, the egg production rate, feed conversion ratio (FCR), and eggshell quality tended to be improved. Serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and Interleukin-4 (IL-4) levels were also elevated as well as the peripheral blood LPS stimulation index, the proportion of B lymphocytes, and antibody titer of bovine serum albumin (BSA). We also found that mRNA levels of follicle stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) in ovarian, nuclear transcription factor kappa B (NF-κB), Transforming growth factor (TGF-β) and interferon γ (IFN-γ) in spleen were up-regulated at the end of the trial. Additionally, dietary 50 mg/kg SS improved the ileal flora via up-regulating the relative abundance of Lactobacillus, Romboutsia and Lactobacillus delbrueckii. Although the immune related indicators were improved with 500 mg/kg SS supplemented, it seemed to have a negative influence on the laying-performance. Specifically, serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and the ratio of IFN-γ to IL-4 were increased in the 500 SS group at the end of the trial. The mRNA levels of gonadotropin releasing hormone 1 (GnRH1) in Hypothalamus, the estrogen related receptor (ERR) in ovaries were downregulated as well as the egg production rate during the trial with 500 mg/kg SS supplemented.

CONCLUSIONS

The egg production performance was improved by dietary supplemented with 50 mg/kg SS via increasing ovarian FSHR transcription level and serum estrogen level. A beneficial shift in intestinal microflora was recorded, and the immune function of laying hens was also improved with 50 mg/kg SS supplementation. Surprisingly, the long-term supplementation of 500 mg/kg SS exerted a negative impact on the laying performance and physiological functions of the liver of laying hens.

Bridging the Gaps between Plant and Human Health: A Systematic Review of Soyasaponins

Saponins, prominent secondary plant metabolites, are recognized for their roles in plant defense and medicinal benefits. Soyasaponins, commonly derived from legumes, are a class of triterpenoid saponins that demonstrate significant potential for plant and human health applications. Previous research and reviews largely emphasize human health effects of soyasaponins. However, the biological effects of soyasaponins and their implications for plants in the context of human health have not been well-discussed. This review provides comprehensive discussions on the biological roles of soyasaponins in plant defense and rhizosphere microbial interactions; biosynthetic regulation and compound production; immunological effects and potential for therapeutics; and soyasaponin acquisition attributed to processing effects, bioavailability, and biotransformation processes based on recent soyasaponin research. Given the multifaceted biological effects elicited by soyasaponins, further research warrants an integrated approach to understand molecular mechanisms of regulations in their production as well as their applications in plant and human health.

Botanicals in Postmenopausal Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a systemic bone disease characterized by reduced bone mass and the deterioration of bone microarchitecture leading to bone fragility and an increased risk of fractures. Conventional anti-osteoporotic pharmaceutics are effective in the treatment and prophylaxis of osteoporosis, however they are associated with various side effects that push many women into seeking botanicals as an alternative therapy. Traditional folk medicine is a rich source of bioactive compounds waiting for discovery and investigation that might be used in those patients, and therefore botanicals have recently received increasing attention. The aim of this review of literature is to present the comprehensive information about plant-derived compounds that might be used to maintain bone health in perimenopausal and postmenopausal females.

Milk and Dairy Products: Good or Bad for Human Bone? Practical Dietary Recommendations for the Prevention and Management of Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis affects women twice as often as men. Additionally, it is estimated that 0.3 million and 1.7 million people have hip fractures in the USA and Europe, respectively. Having a proper peak bone mass and keeping it as long as possible is especially important for osteoporosis prevention. One of the most important calcium sources is milk and dairy products. Breast milk is the best infant food, but milk should not be avoided later in life to prevent losing bone mass. On the other hand, more and more people limit their milk consumption and consume other dairy or non-dairy products. For example, they are usually replaced with plant beverages, which should be consumed carefully in several age groups. Additionally, an important element of milk and dairy products, as well as plant beverages, are probiotics and prebiotics, which may modulate bone turnover. Dietary recommendations focused on milk, and dairy products are an important element for the prevention of osteoporosis.

Recent developments in natural products for white adipose tissue browning

Excess accumulation of white adipose tissue (WAT) causes obesity which is an imbalance between energy intake and energy expenditure. Obesity is a serious concern because it has been the leading causes of death worldwide, including diabetes, stroke, heart disease and cancer. Therefore, uncovering the mechanism of obesity and discovering anti-obesity drugs are crucial to prevent obesity and its complications. Browning, inducing white adipose tissue to brown or beige (brite) fat which is brown-like fat emerging in WAT, becomes an appealing therapeutic strategy for obesity and metabolic disorders. Due to lack of efficacy or intolerable side-effects, the clinical trials that promote brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenesis and browning of WAT have not been successful in humans. Obviously, more specific means still need to be developed to activate browning of white adipose tissue. In this review, we summarized seven kinds of natural products (alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, long chain fatty acids, phenolic acids, else and extract) promoting white adipose tissue browning which can ameliorate the metabolic disorders, including obesity, dislipidemia, insulin resistance and diabetes. Since natural products are important drug sources and the browning property plays a significant role in not only obesity treatment but also in type 2 diabetes (T2DM) improvement, natural products of inducing browning may be an irreplaceable drug discovery orientation for obesity, diabetes and even other metabolic disorders.

Biomolecule from Trigonella stellata from Saudi Flora to Suppress Osteoporosis via Osteostromal Regulations

Trigonella stellata has used in folk medicine as palatable and nutraceutical herb. It also regulates hypocholesterolemia, hypoglycemia, and has showed anti-inflammatory activities as well as antioxidants efficacy. Osteoporosis is a one of bone metabolic disorders and is continuously increasing worldwide. In the present study, caffeic acid was isolated from Trigonella stellata and identified using 1 D- and 2 D-NMR spectroscopic data. Caffeic acid was investigated on osteoblast and osteoclast in vitro using mice bone marrow-derived mesenchymal cells. Caffeic acid played reciprocal proliferation between osteoblast and osteoclast cells and accelerated the bone mineralization. It was confirmed by cytotoxicity, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alizarin red S (ARS), and Tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) assay. Caffeic acid regulated the osteogenic marker and upregulated the osteopontin, osteocalcin, and bone morphogenic proteins (BMP). Quantitative real time PCR and Western blot were used to quantify the mRNA and protein markers. It also regulated the matrix metalloprotease-2 (MMP-2) and cathepsin-K proteolytic markers in osteoclast cells. In addition, caffeic acid inhibited bone resorption in osteoclast cells. On the other hand, it upregulate osteoblast differentiation through stimulation of extracellular calcium concentrations osteoblast differentiation, respectively. The results also were confirmed through in silico docking of caffeic acid against cathepsin-B and cathepsin-K markers. These findings revealed that caffeic acid has a potential role in bone-metabolic disorder through its multifaceted effects on osteoblast and osteoclast regulations and controls osteoporosis.

Germinated Soybean Embryo Extract Ameliorates Fatty Liver Injury in High-Fat Diet-Fed Obese Mice

Soybean is known to have diverse beneficial effects against human diseases, including obesity and its related metabolic disorders. Germinated soybean embryos are enriched with bioactive phytochemicals and known to inhibit diet-induced obesity in mice, but their effect on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) remains unknown. Here, we germinated soybean embryos for 24 h, and their ethanolic extract (GSEE, 15 and 45 mg/kg) was administered daily to mice fed with a high-fat diet (HFD) for 10 weeks. HFD significantly increased the weight of the body, liver and adipose tissue, as well as serum lipid markers, but soyasaponin Ab-rich GSEE alleviated these changes. Hepatic injury and triglyceride accumulation in HFD-fed mice were attenuated by GSEE via decreased lipid synthesis (SREBP1c) and increased fatty acid oxidation (p-AMPKα, PPARα, PGC1α, and ACOX) and lipid export (MTTP and ApoB). HFD-induced inflammation (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, CD14, F4/80, iNOS, and COX2) was normalized by GSEE in mice livers. In adipose tissue, GSEE downregulated white adipose tissue (WAT) differentiation and lipogenesis (PPARγ, C/EBPα, and FAS) and induced browning genes (PGC1α, PRDM16, CIDEA, and UCP1), which could also beneficially affect the liver via lowering adipose tissue-related circulating lipid levels. Thus, our results suggest that GSEE can prevent HFD-induced NAFLD via inhibition of hepatic inflammation and restoration of lipid metabolisms in both liver and adipose tissue.

Mechanism of CK2.3, a Novel Mimetic Peptide of Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptor Type IA, Mediated Osteogenesis

BACKGROUND

Osteoporosis is a degenerative skeletal disease with a limited number of treatment options. CK2.3, a novel peptide, may be a potential therapeutic. It induces osteogenesis and bone formation in vitro and in vivo by acting downstream of BMPRIA through releasing CK2 from the receptor. However, the detailed signaling pathways, the time frame of signaling, and genes activated remain largely unknown.

METHODS

Using a newly developed fluorescent CK2.3 analog, specific inhibitors for the BMP signaling pathways, Western blot, and RT-qPCR, we determined the mechanism of CK2.3 in C2C12 cells. We then confirmed the results in primary BMSCs.

RESULTS

Using these methods, we showed that CK2.3 stimulation activated OSX, ALP, and OCN. CK2.3 stimulation induced time dependent release of CK2β from BMPRIA and concurrently CK2.3 colocalized with CK2α. Furthermore, CK2.3 induced BMP signaling depends on ERK1/2 and Smad1/5/8 signaling pathways.

CONCLUSION

CK2.3 is a novel peptide that drives osteogenesis, and we detailed the molecular sequence of events that are triggered from the stimulation of CK2.3 until the induction of mineralization. This knowledge can be applied in the development of future therapeutics for osteoporosis.

Germinated soy germ extract ameliorates obesity through beige fat activation

Obesity is a worldwide public health concern requiring safe and effective strategies. Recent studies suggest that bioactive compounds from soybeans have beneficial effects on weight loss and reducing fat accumulation. However, despite the biochemical and nutritional changes during germination, the biological effects of germinated soy germ have not been fully investigated. In this article, germinated soy germ extract (GSGE) was evaluated as a potential treatment option for obesity using 3T3-L1 pre-adipocyte and high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. In vitro studies demonstrated that GSGE suppressed the differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells into mature adipocytes, along with reductions in lipid accumulation and lipid droplet formation. In vivo studies also showed that a daily dose of 1 mg kg-1 of GSGE reduced weight gain, adipocyte area, serum triglyceride, and LDL-cholesterol in HFD-fed mice. The GSGE treatment promoted browning, which was associated with increased UCP1 expression in vitro and in vivo. In addition, GSGE treatment induced beige fat activation by upregulation of lipolysis and beta-oxidation. Furthermore, gene and protein expression levels of endocannabinoid system-related factors such as NAPE-PLD, FAAH, DAGL-α, and CB2 were altered along with browning and beige fat activation by GSGE. The present study indicates that GSGE effectively inhibits lipid accumulation and promotes beige fat transition and activation. Therefore, we suggest that GSGE treatment could be a promising strategy for the prevention of obesity by promoting weight loss, reducing fat accumulation, and improving obesity-related metabolic disorders.

The Dual Role of Oat Bran Water Extract in Bone Homeostasis Through the Regulation of Osteoclastogenesis and Osteoblast Differentiation

The number of patients with bone metabolic disorders including osteoporosis is increasing worldwide. These disorders often facilitate bone fractures, which seriously impact the patient's quality of life and could lead to further health complications. Bone homeostasis is tightly regulated to balance bone resorption and formation. However, many anti-osteoporotic agents are broadly categorized as either bone forming or anti-resorptive, and their therapeutic use is often limited due to unwanted side effects. Therefore, safe and effective therapeutic agents are needed for osteoporosis. This study aims to clarify the bone protecting effects of oat bran water extract (OBWE) and its mode of action. OBWE inhibited RANKL (receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand)-induced osteoclast differentiation by blocking c-Fos/NFATc1 through the alteration of I-κB. Furthermore, we found that OBWE enhanced BMP-2-stimulated osteoblast differentiation by the induction of Runx2 via Smad signaling molecules. In addition, the anti-osteoporotic activity of OBWE was also evaluated using an in vivo model. OBWE significantly restored ovariectomy-induced bone loss. These in vitro and in vivo results showed that OBWE has the potential to prevent and treat bone metabolic disorders including osteoporosis.