Oral Administration of β-Cryptoxanthin Induces Anabolic Effects on Bone Components in the Femoral Tissues of Rats in Vivo

• Published in: Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin 2004, Vol.27(2), pp.232-235
• Main Authors: Uchiyama, Satoshi, Sumida, Takashi, Yamaguchi, Masayoshi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Administration, Oral; Alkaline Phosphatase - metabolism; Anabolic Agents - administration & dosage; Anabolic Agents - pharmacology; Animals; beta Carotene - administration & dosage; beta Carotene - analogs & derivatives; beta Carotene - pharmacology; bone formation; bone metabolism; Calcium - blood; Calcium - metabolism; Cryptoxanthins; Diaphyses - drug effects; Diaphyses - enzymology; Diaphyses - metabolism; DNA - metabolism; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Femur - drug effects; Femur - enzymology; Femur - metabolism; Male; Organ Culture Techniques; rat femur; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Xanthophylls; β-cryptoxanthin
• ISSN: 0918-6158; 1347-5215
• DOI: 10.1248/bpb.27.232

The effect of β-cryptoxanthin on bone components in the femoral tissues of rats was investigated. β-Cryptoxanthin was isolated from Satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu MARC.). Bone tissues were cultured for 48 h in serum-free Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium containing either vehicle or β-cryptoxanthin (10−7 or 10−6 M). The presence of β-cryptoxanthin (10−7 or 10−6 M) caused a significant increase in calcium content and alkaline phosphatase activity in the femoral-diaphyseal and femoral-metaphyseal tissues. These increases were completely abolished in the presence of cycloheximide (10−6 M), an inhibitor of protein synthesis. Thus β-cryptoxanthin had an anabolic effect on bone calcificantion in vitro. Moreover, β-cryptoxanthin (10, 25, or 50 μg/100 g body weight) was orally administered once daily for 7 d to young male rats. The administration of β-cryptoxanthin (10, 25, or 50 μg/100 g body weight) caused a significant increase in calcium content and alkaline phosphatase activity in the femoral-diaphyseal and femoral-metaphyseal tissues. Femoral-diaphyseal and femoral-metaphyseal DNA contents were significantly increased by the dose of 25 or 50 μg/100 g body weight. A significant increase in metaphyseal DNA content was also seen with the dose of 10 μg/100 g body weight of β-cryptoxanthin. This study demonstrates that β-cryptoxanthin has an anabolic effect on bone components in rats in vitro and in vivo.