Effect of osthole on osteoblasts in neonatal rat calvarial cultures

Objective: To study the effects of osthole on proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts in neonatal rat calvarial cultures in vitro . Methods: Osteoblasts were isolated from neonatal rat calvaria through trypsin and collagenase digestion. Quality of the cells was assessed by special ALP histochemistry. The proliferation and collagen synthesis of osteoblasts were assayed by 3H TdR and 3H proline incorporation. The activity of ALP was measured by p nitrophenyl sodium phosphate assay. Ipriflavone (IP) was used as positive control drug. Results: Osthole significantly promoted osteoblast proliferation, alkaline phosphatase activity and collagen synthesis. The effect of osthole was more potent than IP in bone cell proliferation, but was weaker than IP in collagen synthesis. Conclusion: Osthole has osteoblastic effect by increasing osteoblast proliferation, ALP activity and collagen synthesis. [