ABSTRACT
Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease that affects tooth-supporting tissues. Chronic inflammation can progress to periodontitis, which results in loss of alveolar bone. Asarylaldehyde is a potential substance for bone metabolism present in natural compounds. Here, we propose the application of asarylaldehyde in the osteogenic differentiation of human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs) to prevent bone loss. We investigated the effect of asarylaldehyde on hPDLSCs together with bone differentiation media in vitro. The osteogenic differentiation effect was observed after treatment of hPDLSCs with several concentrations of asarylaldehyde. After 21 days, osteogenic cells were identified by mineralization. We also observed that asarylaldehyde increased the mRNA expression of osteoblast-specific markers in hPDLSCs. Interestingly, asarylaldehyde regulated the levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) transcriptional activity through the p38/extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathway. Notably, asarylaldehyde induced hPDLSCs to promote osteogenic differentiation. These results suggest that asarylaldehyde plays a key role in the osteogenic differentiation of hPDLSCs. Asarylaldehyde may be a good candidate for the application of natural compounds in future in periodontal regeneration.
Subject(s)
Aldehydes/pharmacology , Osteogenesis/drug effects , Periodontal Ligament/drug effects , Stem Cells/drug effects , Aldehydes/administration & dosage , Cell Differentiation/drug effects , Cell Differentiation/physiology , Cells, Cultured , Gene Expression/drug effects , Humans , MAP Kinase Signaling System/drug effects , Osteogenesis/genetics , Osteogenesis/physiology , Periodontal Ligament/cytology , Periodontal Ligament/metabolism , Periodontitis/drug therapy , Periodontitis/pathology , Periodontitis/physiopathology , Phytotherapy , Regeneration/drug effects , Regeneration/physiology , Stem Cells/cytology , Stem Cells/metabolismABSTRACT
This study aimed to elucidate the obesity control, hypolipidemic, and antioxidant effects of Lycium chinense leaf powder intake by obese rats. Obesity was induced in rats through 13 weeks of high-fat diet. The obese rats were then divided into four different groups, which were fed for 8 weeks with general diet (G), high-fat diet (F), 5% L. chinense leaf powder with a high-fat diet (FLP5), or 10% L. chinense leaf powder with a high-fat diet (FLP10). The body weight gain of the FLP5 group was significantly lower than that of the F group. Also, the obesity index of the FLP5 and FLP10 group was significantly lower than that of the F group. Serum triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol levels in the FLP5 group were significantly lower than those of the F group. The intake of L. chinense leaf powder did not seem to significantly affect the levels of serum homocysteine, leptin, and ghrelin compared to the control group without L. chinense leaf powder intake. The glutathione content in the liver was significantly higher in the FLP5 group than in the G group, but the glutathione S-transferase activity was significantly lower than in the F group. The thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances levels in the liver and kidney were relatively lower in the FLP5 and FLP10 groups than in the G group. In summary, intake of L. chinense leaf powder in obese rats coincided with a lowering of body weight and levels of serum triglyceride and LDL-cholesterol. It also displayed antioxidant effects.