The effect of Korean red ginseng on mesenchymal stem cells from healthy and osteoporotic human bone marrow.

BACKGROUND

Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by an increase in bone fragility as a result of decreased bone mass and weakening of the bone structure. There are studies on the relationship between osteoporosis and hearing and balance system. The goal of this study was to compare the proliferation and osteogenesis induction properties of mesenchymal stem cells derived from healthy and osteoporotic individuals to better understand the healing properties of Korean red ginseng (KRG) and Panax ginseng-Avena Sativa-Tribulus Terrestris mixture (PAT).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Osteoporotic and healthy MSCs were isolated successfully in culture conditions. The proliferation levels of cells treated with different doses of KRG and PAT were compared by Water-Soluble Tetrazolium-1 (WST-1) assay. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) assay was performed by selecting the most effective KRG dose in proliferation.

RESULTS

Morphology of isolated cells and the expression of cell surface antigens have been detected as similar. The WST-1 assay showed that KRG was effective on the proliferation of osteoporotic cells. The levels of ALP in osteoporotic cells treated with KRG is increased depending on the differentiation day compared to healthy cells.

CONCLUSION

KRG triggered an increase in intracellular ALP levels of osteoporotic MSCs. It suggests that KRG on osteoporotic cells is influential in stimulating osteogenesis and may be useful in osteoporotic patients.