Changes in activities of antioxidant enzymes in radish (Raphanus sativus) seedlings in response to allelopathic effect of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius)

Abstract ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species) production is a usual plant reaction to environmental stresses such as allelopathy. Plants possess antioxidant enzymes to scavenge cells and resist against the ROS. This study was conducted to evaluate changes in antioxidant enzymes (CAT, GPX, APX) in radish seedlings in response to allelopathic effect of safflower root and shoot residues grown under normal irrigation and drought stress. Safflower allelopathic effect led to an increase in antioxidant enzymes activities. GPX activity increased more than CAT and APX. Radish seedlings exposed to safflower residue grown under drought stress showed more antioxidant enzymes activities. Root residues enhanced the activities of antioxidant enzymes greater than shoot. Seedlings exposed to root residues grown under drought stress had the highest level of antioxidant enzymes activities.

Nature-effect relationship research of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and Carthami Flos based on nature combination / 中国中药杂志

Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and Carthami Flos are commonly traditional Chinese medicines with invigorating blood circulation and eliminating blood stasis,but they are different in effects due to differences in five tastes and four properties. In this study,Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and Carthami Flos are selected as research vectors to obtain the active ingredients and targets through TCMD,TCMSP database and Ch EMBL database. The protein interaction information of the target is used to obtain from STRING online database,then imported into Cytoscape software to plot the protein interaction network and perform GO enrichment analysis.The results show that the heart-liver protein interaction network,involving blood circulation and hepatic lipid metabolism,thereby exerting the effect of activating blood circulation. The cold-bitter protein interaction network involves the biological process of vasoconstriction,thereby exerting cooling blood and the efficacy of eliminating phlegm. The warm-pungent protein interaction network involves blood coagulation,lipid metabolism and other biological processes to play the role of phlegm pain. Through analysis,it is found that the relationship between pharmacological efficacy and medicinal properties has a certain degree of specificity,which facilitates the subsequent scientific and systematic study of medicinal properties on the basis of this study.

Traditional Chinese medicine: herb-drug interactions with aspirin

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)-based herbal therapies have gained increasing popularity worldwide, raising concerns of its efficacy, safety profile and potential interactions with Western medications. Antithrombotic agents are among the most common prescription drugs involved in herb-drug interactions, and this article focused on aspirin, one of the most widely used antiplatelet agents worldwide. We discussed herbs that have potential interactions by exploring Western and TCM approaches to thrombotic events. Common TCM indications for these herbs were also highlighted, including possible scenarios of their concurrent usage with aspirin. With greater awareness and understanding of potential herb-drug interactions, TCM and Western physicians may collaborate more closely to identify, treat and, most importantly, prevent adverse drug events.

Óeo de Cártamo (Carthamus tinctorius) aumenta os níveis de colesterol total e LDL-colesterol em modelo experimental de síndrome metabólica / Safflower oil (Carthamus tinctorius L) Intake increases total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels in an experimental model of metabolic syndrome

Fundamentos: O excesso de peso vem sendo considerado um importante problema de saúde pública. Na tentativa de reverter esse quadro, são propostos diversos tipos de tratamento. O óleo de cártamo ( Carthamus tinctorius ) vem sendo utilizado na prevenção/tratamento da obesidade. Objetivos: O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos terapêuticos desse óleo em um modelo experimental de síndrome metabólica. Métodos: Inicialmente foram utilizados ratos Wistar alimentados com dieta altamente palatável (AP) por dez semanas. Após, os animais receberam a dieta AP com suplementação de óleo de soja (APOS) ou óleo de cártamo (APOC), na dosagem 1,0 ml/1000 g de peso do animal. No final do experimento, a composição corporal, o perfil lipídico e glicemia dos animais foram avaliados. Para a análise estatística, utilizou-se o teste t de Student. Resultados: Na primeira fase (indução da síndrome metabólica), os animais que receberam a dieta AP mostraram ganho de peso (p < 0,001), adiposidade visceral (p = 0,001), glicemia (p = 0,001) e triglicerídeos séricos (p = 0,03) significativamente mais elevados do que aqueles do grupo controle. Além disso, houve uma diferença no peso do fígado (p = 0,01). Esses resultados demonstram que a administração de dieta AP é um modelo eficaz para o estudo experimental da síndrome metabólica. Na segunda etapa, os animais do grupo APOC mostraram aumento de colesterol total (p < 0,05) e de LDL-colesterol (p < 0,001). Conclusão: Sob as condições experimentais referidas, conclui-se que a utilização de óleo de cártamo pode causar efeitos deletérios sobre o perfil lipídico em um modelo experimental de síndrome metabólica

Background: Overweight has been considered an important public health problem. To reverse this situation, various types of treatment are proposed. The safflower oil (Carthamus tinctorius L.) has been used in the prevention/treatment of obesity. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic effects of this oil in an experimental model of metabolic syndrome. Methods: Male Wistar rats initially received a highly palatable (HP) diet for ten weeks for validation of a metabolic syndrome model. Following confirmation, the animals were treated with a HP diet and soybean oil (HPSO) or safflower oil (HPSA) supplementation (1.0 mL/1000 g of animal weight). At the end of the experiment, the body composition, lipid profile and blood glucose levels of the animals were assessed. Student t test was used for statistical analysis. Results: In the first stage (induction of metabolic syndrome), the animals given the HP diet showed gain weight (p < 0.001), visceral adiposity (p = 0.001), and significantly higher levels of blood glucose (p = 0.001) and triglycerides (p = 0.03) than those of the control group. Also, there was a difference in liver weight (p = 0.01). These results demonstrate that the HP diet administration is an effective model for the experimental metabolic syndrome study. In the second stage, the animals of the HPSA group showed increased total cholesterol (p < 0.05) and LDL-cholesterol (p < 0.001) levels. Conclusion: Under the referred experimental conditions, the use of safflower oil can cause possible deleterious effects on the lipid profile in a metabolic syndrome experimental model

Óleos vegetais extraídos a frio comercializados na cidade de São Paulo: avaliação das características de identidade e qualidade e da ocorrência de hidrocarbonetos policíclicos aromáticos / Cold-pressed vegetable oils sold in São Paulo city characteristics of identity and quality evaluation and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons occurrence

O crescente mercado dos produtos naturais, fomentado pelo interesse dos consumidores por alimentos que auxiliem a promoção da saúde, tem pressionado a indústria alimentícia na oferta por novos alimentos. Dentre estes alimentos, encontram-se os óleos vegetais extraídos a frio, reconhecidos por preservarem compostos bioativos característicos e, alguns deles, serem fontes de ácidos graxos (AG) essenciais. A categoria dos óleos e gorduras apresenta, dentre outros alimentos, uma importante fonte de exposição aos hidrocarbonetos policíclicos aromáticos (HPAs), um grupo de contaminantes químicos orgânicos, alguns com ação carcinogênica. Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar os óleos vegetais extraídos a frio quanto aos parâmetros de identidade, de qualidade e à ocorrência de HPAs. Foram avaliadas 40 amostras, dez de cada tipo (coco, cártamo, prímula e linhaça), de diferentes marcas, adquiridas no comércio da cidade de São Paulo. Foram realizados os ensaios de perfil de AG, índice de acidez, índice de peróxido, p-anisidina, valor total de oxidação (totox) e HPAs (benzo(a)antraceno, criseno, benzo(b)fluoranteno e benzo(a)pireno). Quanto aos AG, catorze óleos (35 por cento ) não apresentaram perfis de ácidos graxos característicos que os declarados em seus rótulos, incluindo um de coco, quatro de cártamo e nove de prímula. Os valores para acidez estavam inadequados em relação a legislação para três óleos de linhaça (7,5 por cento )...

The natural product market growth, stimulated by the interest of consumers in foods that support health promotion, has encouraged the food industry to supply new kinds of foods. Among these are the cold-pressed vegetable oils, recognized by preserving characteristic bioactive compounds and, some of them, are sources of essential fatty acids (FA). The category of oils and fats owns, within others foods, an important source of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), a group of organic chemical contaminants, some of them with carcinogenic activity. This study aimed at evaluating cold-pressed vegetable oils in relation to the PAHs occurrence, as well as the quality and identity parameters. Forty samples being ten of each type (coconut oil, safflower oil, evening primrose oil and flaxseed oil) of distinct brands, which were acquired in different markets from São Paulo, were evaluated. Fatty acids profile, acid value, peroxide value, p-anisidine value, total oxidation value (totox) and PAHs (benzo(a)anthracene, chrysene, benzo(b)fluoranthene and benzo(a)pyrene) were analyzed. As for FA, fourteen oils (35 per cent ) showed different fatty acids profiles according to the ones on their labels, including one of coconut oil, four of safflower oils and nine of evening primrose oils. The acid values were unsuitable towards the legislation to three flaxseed oils (7.5 per cent )...

Efeito da suplementação de óleo de cártamo sobre o peso corporal, perfil lipídico, glicídico e antioxidante de ratos wistar induzidos a obesidade / Effects of safflower oil supplementation on body weight, glucose and lipid profile and antioxidant capacity in rats with diet-induced obesity

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito da suplementação de óleo de cártamo sobre peso corporal, perfis lipídico e glicídico e capacidade da atividade antioxidante enzimática em ratos Wistar induzidos à obesidade por dieta hiperlipídica. Utilizaram-se 28 ratos adultos, machos, distribuídos em quatro grupos experimentais: Grupo Controle e dieta normolipídica (GCN); Grupo controle e dieta hiperlipídica (GCH); Grupo Óleo de cártamo e dieta normolipídica (GNOC) e Grupo Óleo de cártamo e dieta hiperlipídica (GHOC). Durante 30 dias, observaram-se consumo alimentar e peso corporal e, ao final do experimento, glicemia, perfil lipídico, formação de Substâncias Reativas ao Ácido Tiobarbitúrico (TBARS) e atividade das enzimas antioxidantes: Catalase (CAT), Glutationa Peroxidase (GHS-Px) e Superóxido dismutase (SOD). Os resultados demonstraram que o consumo alimentar foi menor nos grupos tratados com óleo de cártamo e a média do peso corporal foi inferior no GNOC e superior no GCH. Houve aumento das concentrações de Lipoproteína de Alta Densidade (HDL-colesterol) no GNOC. Os grupos GCH e GHOC demonstraram médias de TBARS superiores a dos grupos GCN e GNOC. O GCH apresentou menor GSH-Px e o GHOC, menor atividadede CAT quando comparado aos grupos GCN e GNOC. Concluiu-se que a suplementação com óleo de cártamo reduziu consumo alimentar e o ganho de peso corporal dos animais aumentou o HDL-colesterol no grupo com dieta normolipídica, mas não foi capaz de prevenir o aumento da peroxidação lipídica induzida pela dieta hiperlipídica, embora tenha evitado a redução da atividade antioxidante enzimática representada pela GHS-Px...

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of safflower oil supplementation on body weight, glucose and lipid profiles and the antioxidant enzyme activities in Wistar rats with high-fat diet-induced obesity. The 28 adult male rats were divided into four groups: Control Group fed on Standard (low-fat) Diet (GCN); Control Group fed on High-fat Diet (GCH); Safflower Oil Group with Standard Diet (GNOC) and Safflower Oil Group with High-fat Diet (GHOC). Food intake and body weight were monitored for 30 days. At the end of the experiment, blood was collected for assays of blood glucose, lipid profile, formation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and antioxidant enzyme activities: viz. catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). The results showed that food intake was lower in the groups treated with safflower oil and that the average body weight was lower in GNOC and higher in GCH. There were increased concentrations of high-density lipoprotein (HDL cholesterol) in GNOC. Both high-fat groups (GCH and GHOC) showed higher average TBARS than GCN and GNOC. GCH showed lower GSH-Px activity and GHOC showed lower CAT activity than GCN and GNOC. It was concluded that supplementation with safflower oil reduced the food intake and body weight of the animals, and increased the HDL-cholesterol in the normal diet group, but did not prevent the increase in lipid peroxidation induced by the high-fat diet, despite having prevented the reduction of the antioxidant enzyme activity of GSH-Px...

Analysis on composition regularity of carthami flos-containing traditional Chinese medicines / 中国中药杂志

To analyze the composition regularity of Carthami Flos-containing prescriptions of the Drug Standards of Ministry of Health of People's Republic of China-Traditional Chinese Medicine Preparations (the ministerial standards for Traditional Chinese Medicine) based on the traditional Chinese medicine inheritance support system (TCMISS, RZDZ No. 0389952). Efforts were made to identify 331 prescriptions containing Carthami Flos and summarize 16 attending functions and 10 commonly used drug combinations. Three commonly used drug combinations were selected for an in-depth analysis on Carthami Flos's combined administration regularity. Based on Carthami Flos's attending functions, its effects in paralysis, traumatic injuries and dysmenorrheal were compared to analyze Carthami Flos's core drug combinations for treating different diseases. The regularity of clinical administration and the characteristics of commonly used drug combinations were summarized to provide reference for Carthami Flos's clinical application and new ideas for new drug R&D. Carthami Flos prescriptions was mainly used to treat blood stasis and pain and mostly combined with drugs that could activate blood, promote the circulation of qi and dispel pathogenic wind to treat Qi-stagnation and blood stasis caused by various pathogenic factors such as wind, cold and dampness.

Study of screening nephroprotective bioactive substances based on triple-color fluorescence probes in Carthami flos / 中国中药杂志

In this study, an approach based on triple-color fluorescence probes was developed for screening potential nephro-protective bioactive substances. Three fluorescent probes (i. e. FDA, MTR and Hoechst 33342) were used to label HK-2 cells injured by doxorubicin hydrochloride, and cellular fluorescence images were subsequently acquired and analyzed by a cellular-fluorescence image microscopy platform. The established method was applied to screening 53 components of Carthami Flos, and three components C17, C18 and C19 were found to exhibit nephroprotective effects against doxorubicin hydrochloride induced injury on HK-2 cells. Eight compounds (i. e. hydroxysafflor yellow A, 6-hydroxykaempferol-3-O-rutinoside-6-O-glucoside, 6-hydroxykaempferol-3,6-di-O-gluco-side or 6-hydroxykaempferol-6, 7-di-O-glucoside, 6-hydroxykaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, 6-hydroxykaempferol-3-O-glucoside or 6-hydroxykaempferol-7-O-glucoside, rutin, isoquercetin, and kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside) in components C17, C18 and C19 were preliminarily identified by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Isoquercetin, rutin, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, and hydroxysafflor yellow A were confirmed by comparing with reference substances, Further study indicated that these four compounds had moderate nephroprotective effects, while isoquercetin showed a significant nephroprotective effect in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that isoquercetin, rutin, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside and hydroxysafflor yellow A might be the nephroprotective bioactive substances in Carthami Flos.

Effects of Carthamus tinctorius on Semen Quality and Gonadal Hormone Levels in Partially Sterile Male Rats

PURPOSE: Traditional herbal medicine is just one of the many different approaches using plants in the remedy of diseases. Carthamus tinctorius (CT) or safflower is a popular plant that is used for coloring and flavoring in food industries. The effect of CT on spermatogenesis and sperm parameters has been reported in traditional medicine but has not yet been confirmed scientifically. Therefore, this study was designed to determine the effects of CT on spermatogenesis and the male reproductive system in an animal model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty male rats were divided into five groups. Four groups were injected with 5 mg/kg of busulfan as a model of partial infertility. Then, the experimental groups were treated with 10 mg/kg, 25 mg/kg, or 50 mg/kg of CT extract for 35 days. The control was treated with busulfan (infertile control) or distilled water only. After this period, the animals were sacrificed and blood samples were taken for hormonal assay. The semen was collected from the epididymis and the reproductive organs were assessed. Sperm count and motility were measured and smears were prepared for assessment of the other parameters. RESULTS: The results indicated that the percentage of sperm with good morphology, motility, and count increased significantly in the group treated with 10 mg/kg CT (p=0.002, p=0.03, and p=0.00001, respectively). The effects on hormonal changes and genital organ weights were also positive. CONCLUSIONS: It is probable that the CT extract affects spermatogenesis and as a result sperm quality. Further studies are needed.

Research on technological process of two-pot countercurrent extraction of hydroxysafflor yellow A / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the optimum technical conditions of extracting Hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA) from Carthmus tinctorius by multi-stage countercurrent extraction technology.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The effects of extraction time of each stage, extraction temperature, ethanol concentration and solid-liquid ratio (g x mL(-1)) on extraction yield of HSYA were studied by orthogonal test design and the comparison of other extraction methods were presented.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Extraction time and solid-liquid ratio had significant influence on the extraction yield, and the optimum parameters were as follows: Extraction time of each stage was 120 min, solid-liquid ratio was 1 : 10 (g x mL(-1)), ethanol concentration was 30%, and extracted at room temperature. Under the optimum conditions, the extraction yield of HSYA was 1.56% and the purity of the extract was 6.06%. Compared with the traditional extraction method and the ultrasonic extraction method of the pharmacopoeia, the extraction yield was increased by 6.12% and 9.09%, the purity of extract was increased by 42.9% and 27.0%, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The multi-stage countercurrent extraction technology has many advantages such as simple operation, less solvent consumption, higher extraction yield and purity of extract and it has wide industrial application prospect.</p>

Inhibitory action of hydroxysafflor yellow A on inflammatory signal transduction pathway related factors in rats with cerebral cortex ischemia / 药学学报

Hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA) is a main active monomer purified from Carthamus tinctorius L. The research is to study the inhibitory effect of HSYA on the inflammatory signal transduction pathway related factors which were induced by permanent cerebral ischemia in rats. By using the successive administration at a 30 min interval of HSYA and the rats permanent focal cerebral ischemia model established by a intraluminal suture occlusion method. After cerebral artery occlusion 3, 6, 12 and 24 h, cortex was removed for the next experiments. Western blotting was used to detect the expression of p65 protein and the phospho-IkappaB-alpha (pIkappaB-alpha) in the cytoplasm and nucleus. Nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) DNA binding activity was measured by Trans-AM transcription factor assay kits. mRNA expression of cytokines TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6 and IL-10 was measured by the RT-PCR method. The result showed that intravenous injection of HSYA (10 mg x kg(-1)) to rats after cerebral occlusion, the p65 translocation activity and the phosphorylation of IkappaB-alpha were significantly inhibited. At the same time, HSYA suppressed p65 binding activity and the transcriptional level of pro-inflammatory cytokines including TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and IL-6, and promoted the mRNA expression of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. In conclusion, the anti-cerebral ischemic mechanism of HSYA may be due to its inhibition of NF-kappaB activity and the mRNA expression of cytokines in the inflammatory transduction pathway.

Carthamus tinctorius L. Increases BMP-2 Gene Expression during Bone Fracture Healing in Rats

Carthamus tinctorius L.is known to improve fracture healing, and bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are associated with the formation and healing process of bone. BMP-2 and BMP-7 are two of the most important BMPs during the bone healing process. Human osteosarcoma MG63 cells and rats were used to determine the effects of Carthamus tinctorius L. extract (CTE) on BMP-2 gene expression. BMP-2 gene expression by CTE treatment in human osteosarcoma MG63 cells was not different from the control group until 8 hours of incubation, but was significantly higher, by 31%, than that of the control group at 16 hr of incubation. Microscopic findings of the 9th rib 3 weeks after fracture showed typical rimming of the osteoblast and immature bone formation in control and CTE groups. BMP-2 gene expression by in situ hybridization was remarkably increased by a CTE-supplemented diet in the fracture group compared to the control group. In conclusion, Carthamus tinctorius L. increased BMP-2 gene expression in human osteosarcoma cells and fractured bone. But further studies would be needed to elucidate the effect of CTE on fracture healing in vivo because our results did not show any evidence of healing improvement histologically 3rd week after fracture.

Estimating leaf appearance rate and phyllochron in safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L)

Cártamo pode ser uma alternativa para o mercado de flores, podendo ser comercializada como flor fresca ou seca. A estimativa da taxa de aparecimento de folhas (LAR) e do filocrono (tempo necessário para o aparecimento de folhas sucessivas) é importante no cálculo do número de folhas emergidas (NL) na planta, o qual é uma excelente medida de tempo vegetal. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estimar a taxa de aparecimento de folhas e o filocrono em cártamo (Carthamus tinctorius L.). Foi realizado um experimento em Santa Maria, RS, em estufa plástica de 8 x 15m. A semeadura foi em 03 de outubro de 2003 e a emergência foi em 08 de outubro de 2003. O delineamento experimental foi o de blocos ao acaso com três repetições. O NL na haste principal foi medido durante o período de 24 de outubro a 15 de novembro de 2003. Foi calculado o número de graus dia diário acima de uma temperatura base (5°C) e a soma térmica acumulada (TT). Foi realizada uma análise de regressão linear entre NL e TT. O coeficiente angular da regressão linear é a LAR (folhas/ °C dia) e o filocrono (°C dia/folha) foi estimado pelo inverso do coeficiente angular da regressão linear. A LAR foi 0,0467 ± 0,0203 folhas/ °C dia e o filocrono foi 25,5 ± 14,6 °C dia/folha.

Biological effect of seed-coating in Carthamus tinctorins / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the Biological effect of seed-coating in Carthamus tinctorins.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Two kinds of seedcoating chemicals SCF1 and SCF2 were used in this experiment, the seed YM-99 and 27981-99 were coated by three kinds of ratio of seedcoating chemicals to seed. It was investigated that the germination energy and germination percentage in the room and the emergence rate, seedling stage growing, pest in the field.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Seedoating can improve the emergence rate and seedling stage growing, it also can effectively control aphid, rust and virosis during the growing period in C. tinctorins.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Seedcoating has significant biological effect in C. tinctorins.</p>

Antagonistic effect of hydroxysafflor yellow A on the platelet activating factor receptor / 药学学报

<p><b>AIM</b>To observe the antagonistic effect of hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA) on the platelet activating factor (PAF).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Washed rabbit platelet (WRP) aggregation and rabbit polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) aggregation induced by PAF were observed by turbidimetric assay in vitro. The PAF receptor antagonistic effect of HSYA was investigated by radio ligand binding assay (RLBA).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In RLBA the specific binding inhibition effect of HSYA was found to be concentration-dependent in three different [3H]PAF concentrations. In the experiments, WRP aggregation and rabbit PMNs aggregation induced by PAF (9.55 x 10(-10), 9.55 x 10(-6) mol.L-1) were both inhibited by HSYA in a concentration-dependent manner in vitro. The IC50 of HSYA to inhibit WRP and rabbit PMNs aggregation was 0.99 and 0.70 mmol.L-1, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The PAF receptor binding can be antagonized by HSYA.</p>

Effect of Extract of Seeds of Carthamus tinctorius L. on Mineralization in Periodontal Ligament Cells and Osteoblastic Cells / 대한치주과학회지

The main goal for the treatment of periodontal diseases is the regeneration of lost cementum, bone and connective tissue. Clinical and histological research suggests that it is possible to restore periodontal structures. Seeds of Carthamus tinctorius L. has been used for the treatment of bone fracture and osteoporosis in traditional Korean medicine. The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of extract of seeds of Carthamus tinctorius L. on mineralization in periodontal ligament cells and osteoblastic cells. Periodontal ligament cells were primarily obtained from a extracted premolars with non-periodontal diseases. Osteoblastic cells were obtained from calvariae of a fetal rat. Cells were cultured with DMEM at 37degrees C with 5% CO2 in 100% humidity incubator. Alkaline phosphatase(ALP) level and the number of calcification nodules were examined and western blot analysis using osteonectin was performed. Measurements of ALP levels and calcification nodules showed that extract of seeds of Carthamus tinctorius L. had significantly higher activity than control in all of both cells. In western blot analysis, protein expression of osteonectin indicated that extract of seeds of Carthamus tinctorius L. showed an increased pattern than control in all of both cells. From the above results, it seems that extract of seeds of Carthamus tinctorius L. has excellent effect on mineralization in periodontal ligament cells and osteoblastic cells.