Inhibitory effect of a Korean traditional medicine, Honghwain-Jahage (water extracts of Carthamus tinctorius L. seed and Hominis placenta) on interleukin-1-mediated bone resorption

A Korean herbal formulation, Honghwain-Jahage (HJ), which is comprised of a herb of Carthamus tinctorius L. seed and Hominis Placenta, was investigated for inhibiting effects on IL-1β-stimulated bone resorption in the fetal mouse bone culture system. Results of in vitro cytotoxicities showed that HJ extracts have no any cytotoxicities in concentrations of 1-200 μg/ml on the cultured osteoblast cells derived from mouse calvarial bone explants. Cell viability was not significantly affected by treatment with the indicated concentration of the extracts. The HJ extracts were shown to have inhibitory effects against the synthesis of PGE₂. We also examined the effect of the pretreatment with various concentrations of the HJ extracts then treated by the PGE₂-induction agents. Pretreatment of the HJ extracts for 1 h, which by itself had little effect on cell survival, reduced the synthesis of PGE₂. Furthermore, the HJ extracts were shown to have protective effects against plasminogen dependent fibrinolysis induced by IL-1β. Pretreatment of the HJ extracts for 1 h did not enhance the plasminogen dependent fibrinolysis. Finally, co-treatment of HJ with calcitonin showed significant inhibitory activity on the IL-1β-stimulated bone resorption. From these results, it was found that HJ extracts inhibited IL-1β-induced bone resorption.