Abstract

Context

Ferulic acid ethyl ester (FAEE) is abundant in Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. (Apiaceae) and grains, and possesses diverse biological activities; but the effects of FAEE on osteoporosis has not been reported.

Objective

This study investigated whether FAEE can attenuate osteoclastogenesis and relieve ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis via attenuating mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK).

Materials and methods

We stimulated RAW 264.7 cells with receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) followed by FAEE. The roles of FAEE in osteoclast production and osteogenic resorption of mature osteoclasts were evaluated by tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining, expression of osteoclast-specific genes, proteins and MAPK. Ovariectomized (OVX) female Sprague-Dawley rats were administered FAEE (20 mg/kg/day) for 12 weeks to explore its potential in vivo, and then histology was undertaken in combination with cytokines analyses.

Results

FAEE suppressed RANKL-induced osteoclast formation (96 ± 0.88 vs. 15 ± 1.68) by suppressing the expression of osteoclast-specific genes, proteins and MAPK signalling pathway related proteins (p-ERK/ERK, p-JNK/JNK and p-P38/P38) in vitro. In addition, OVX rats exposed to FAEE maintained their normal calcium (Ca) (2.72 ± 0.02 vs. 2.63 ± 0.03, p < 0.05) balance, increased oestradiol levels (498.3 ± 9.43 vs. 398.7 ± 22.06, p < 0.05), simultaneously reduced levels of bone mineral density (BMD) (0.159 ± 0.0016 vs. 0.153 ± 0.0025, p < 0.05) and bone mineral content (BMC) (0.8 ± 0.0158 vs. 0.68 ± 0.0291, p < 0.01).

Discussion and conclusions

These findings suggested that FAEE could be used to ameliorate osteoporosis by the MAPK signalling pathway, suggesting that FAEE could be a potential therapeutic candidate for osteoporosis.

Details

Title
FAEE exerts a protective effect against osteoporosis by regulating the MAPK signalling pathway
Author
Ming‑Yue Wang 1 ; Meng‑Fei An 2 ; Mao-Si, Fan 1 ; Shao-Shi, Zhang 1 ; Ze‑Rui Sun 1 ; Yun‑Li Zhao 3 ; Ze-Min Xiang 4 ; Sheng, Jun 5 

 Key Laboratory of Pu-erh Tea Science, Ministry of Education, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, P. R. China; College of Food Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, P. R. China 
 Key Laboratory of Pu-erh Tea Science, Ministry of Education, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, P. R. China; College of Science, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, P. R. China 
 Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry for Natural Resource, Ministry of Education; Yunnan Provincial Center for Research & Development of Natural Products; School of Chemical Science and Technology, Yunnan University, Kunming, P. R. China 
 College of Science, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, P. R. China 
 Key Laboratory of Pu-erh Tea Science, Ministry of Education, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, P. R. China; College of Science, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, P. R. China; State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Kunming, P. R. China 
Pages
467-478
Publication year
2022
Publication date
Dec 2022
Publisher
Taylor & Francis Ltd.
ISSN
13880209
e-ISSN
17445116
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2761423015
Copyright
© 2022 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.