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Objective To explore the effects of Humulus lupulus L. extract (HLE) and xanthohumol (XN) on preventing glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP). Methods The GIOP model was established by intraperitoneal injection of dexamethasone (DEX). Bone microstructure, bone mineral density and serum biochemical indexes were evaluated by Micro-CT and ELISA kits. The levels of cells proliferation and ALP activity, and the expression of bone formation related proteins were assayed with primary osteoblasts injured by DEX. Results HLE and XN significantly alleviated the bone microstructure damage, enhanced the bone mineral density, and improved the trabecular parameters in GIOP mice. In vitro experiments showed that HLE and XN can prevent bone loss not only by improving cell proliferation and ALP activity, but also through increasing the expression of bone γ-glutamic acid-containing proteins (BGP), bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) and runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx-2). Conclusion This study confirmed that HLE and XN had anti-GIOP effects for the first time. It provides a new resource for the development of anti-osteoporosis medications.
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OBJECTIVE@#To systematically evaluate the protective effects of Humulus lupulus L. extract (HLE) on osteoporosis mice.@*METHODS@#In vivo experiment, a total of 35 12-week-old female ICR mice were equally divided into 5 groups: the sham control group (sham); the ovariectomy with vehicle group (OVX); the OVX with estradiol valerate [EV, 0.2 mg/(kg•d)] the OVX with low- or high-dose HLE groups [HLE, 1 g/(kg•d) and 3 g/(kg•d)], 7 in each group. Treatment began 1 week after the ovariectomized surgery and lasted for 12 weeks. Bone mass and trabecular bone mircoarchitecture were evaluated by micro computed tomography, and bone turnover markers in serum were evaluated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. In vitro experiment, osteoblasts and osteoclasts were treated with HLE at doses of 0, 4, 20 and 100 µg/mL. Biomarkers for bone formation in osteoblasts and bone resorption in osteoclasts were analyzed.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the OVX group, HLE exerted bone protective effects by the increase of estradiol (P<0.05), the improvement of cancellous bone structure, bone mineral density (P<0.01) and the reduction of serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), bone gla-protein, c-terminal telopeptides of type I collagen (CTX-I) and deoxypyridinoline levels (P<0.01 for all). In vitro experiment, compared with the control group, HLE at 20 µg/mL promoted the cell proliferation (P<0.01), and increased the expression of bone morphogenetic protein-2 and osteopontin levels in osteoblasts (both P<0.05). HLE at 100 µg/mL increased the osteoblastic ALP activities, and HLE at all dose enhanced the extracellular matrix mineralization (both P<0.01). Furthermore, compared with the control group, HLE at 20 µg/mL and 100 µg/mL inhibited osteoclastic TRAP activity (P<0.01), and reduced the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 and cathepsin K (both P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#HLE may protect against bone loss, and have potentials in the treatment of osteoporosis.
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Objective To explore the effects of Humulus lupulus L. extract (HLE) and its mechanism on improving bone formation of Aβ-injured osteoblasts. Methods Osteoblasts isolated from 24 h-old Wistar rats were injured by Aβ1-42 oligomer and intervened with HLE. The proliferation, differentiation and bone mineralization of osteoblasts were determined by MTT assay, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity assay and alizarin red staining, respectively. The apoptosis of osteoblasts was detected by flow cytometer. The expression levels of bone formation related proteins, and proteins of Nrf2 and FoxO1 pathways were measured by Western blotting analysis. The intranuclear expression of FoxO1 protein was detected by immunofluorescence. Results HLE significantly improved the cell proliferation, ALP activity and bone mineralization, and inhibited the apoptosis of Aβ-injured osteoblasts. HLE also significantly promoted the expressions of collagen type Ι (COL-I) and osteopontin (OPN) in Aβ-injured osteoblasts. HLE notably activated the Nrf2 and FoxO1 signaling pathways in Aβ-injured osteoblasts by promoting the expressions of related proteins and maintained bone metabolism through relieving oxidative stress. Conclusion This study confirms that HLE can alleviate Aβ-injury to osteoblasts, and preliminarily clarifies the mechanism being related to antioxidation, which provides a new reference for the mechanism research and drugs development for anti-osteoporosis.
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OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the impact of Humulus Lupulus L. hydroalcoholic extract on the body weights, reproductive organs, sperm quality and hormone levels in male rats.@*METHODS@#By simple random sampling method, seventy male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to 7 groups including control group [distilled water, 1 mL/(kg•d)], Tween 80 group [25% Tween 80 solution, 1 mL/(kg•d)], olive oil group [olive oil, 1 mL/(kg•d)], diethyl stilbestrol (DES) group [DES, 100 μg/(kg•body weight)], H50, H150 and H450 [50, 150 and 400 mg/(kg•d) of Humulus Lupulus L extract, respectively]. The administration was performed via gavage once daily for 7 weeks. Body and reproductive organs weights including testes, seminal vesicles, epididymis and prostate were weighted and epididymal sperm quality were determined by digital balance. Blood samples were collected and serum free testosterone (T), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and estrogen (E2) levels were measured by rat specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.@*RESULTS@#The percentage increase in mean body weights of rats in the DES and H50, H150 and H450 groups decreased significantly compared to olive oil and Tween 80 groups (all P0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Humulus Lupulus L. extract significantly increased the seminal vesicle and testes weights and reduced the sperm motility.
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Objective To determine the contents of total flavonoids and xanthohumol in hop from 29 different countries and regions .Methods Rutin colorimetric method was used to determine the content of total flavonoids .HPLC-UV method was established for the determination of xanthohumol in hops .HPLC method was performed by Dikma Technologies Diamonsil C18 (250 mm × 4 .6 mm ,5 μm ) column with mobile phase acetonitrile-1％ glacial acetic acid solution at the flow rate of 1 .0 ml/min .The column temperature was 25 ℃ .The detection wavelength was 370 nm .Results The equation of linear re-gression of total flavonoids was A=30 .345C+0 .0168 ,r=0 .9999 .The equation of linear regression of xanthohumol was A=55446 C+9040 .5 ,r=0 .9999 .Their linear ranges were respectively 20 .2-404 .0 μg/ml ,2 .152-43 .040 μg/ml ,which indica-ted a good linear relationship .The RSDs of precision and repeatability were less than 2％ .The average recoveries of flavonoids and xanthohumol were respectively 102 .71％ and 100 .21％ .Conclusion The contents of total flavonoids and xanthohumol in different hops varieties are significantly different and the import hops was better than the domestic hops in this study .
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Objective: To investigate the effects of Humulus lupulus extract on the function of primary brown preadipocyte and its mechanisms, and try to provide new treatment for obesity and type 2 diabetes. Methods: Primary brown adipocytes in newborn rats were cultivated in vitro. After adding different doses of H. lupulus extract, MTT method was used to detect the cell proliferation, and oil red O staining method was used to analyze the lipid droplets consumption rate of H. lupulus extract on the brown adipocyte. The proteins expression of brown adipocytes (such as UCP1, p38αMAPK, and PGC1α) in different groups was detected by Western blotting. Results: The cell proliferation of primary brown preadipocytes was not effected by H. lupulus extract. Compared with control group, with the increasing dose, the lipid droplets consumption rate of H. lupulus extract on the brown adipocyte was increased. The expression of UCP1, p38αMAPK, and PGC1α was upregulated compared with the control group. Conclusion: H. lupulus extract may improve the heat production of brown adipocytes, and strengthen the energy metabolism. The possible mechanism may via enhancing p38MAPK-PGC1α-UCP1 cascade reaction, sequentially increasing the expression of brown fat specificity protein UCP1.