Ginsenoside Rb1 alleviates aluminum chloride-induced rat osteoblasts dysfunction.

Abstract Osteoblasts dysfunction, induced by aluminum (Al), plays a critical role in the osteoporosis etiology. Ginsenoside Rb1 (Rb1) has the therapeutic properties for osteoporosis. This study aimed to assess the efficiency of Rb1 in ameliorating Al-induced osteoblasts dysfunction. The osteoblasts were divided into four groups: Rb1-treated group (RG, 0.0145 mg/mL Rb1), control group (CG, 0), AlCl 3 -treated group (AG, 0.126 mg/mL AlCl 3 ·6H 2 O), AlCl 3  + Rb1-treated group (ARG, 0.0145 mg/mL Rb1 and 0.126 mg/mL AlCl 3 ·6H 2 O). After 24 h of culture, the osteoblasts viability, the transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF- β1 ), bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2), the insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), core-binding factor α1 (Cbfα1) mRNA expressions, glutathione perioxidase (GSH-P x) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) concentration were determined. The osteoblasts ultrastructural features were also observed. In the ARG, the osteoblasts viability, TGF- β1 , BMP-2, IGF-I and Cbfα1 mRNA expressions and the GSH-P x and SOD activities were significantly increased, the ROS concentration was significantly decreased, and osteoblasts histology lesion was attenuated compared with the AG. These results demonstrated that Rb1 could significantly reverse osteoblasts viability and osteoblasts growth regulation factor, inhibit oxidative stress, and attenuate histology lesion in the osteoblasts with AlCl 3 . These results indicate that Rb1 can effectively alleviate the AlCl 3 -induced osteoblasts dysfunction.