Curly dock inhibits osteoclastogenesis

The root of the curly dock (Rumex crispus) can be used to prevent osteoporosis. The study, which was published in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, looked at the effects of the water extract of R. crispus (WERC) on osteoblast and osteoclast differentiation.

• The roots of R. crispus are used in traditional medicine to treat bleeding and skin diseases.
• Aside from its effects on bone formation, the effects of WERC on a mouse model for trabecular bone destruction were also evaluated using the receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL).
• In vivo studies included injecting mice with RANKL in the abdominal cavity to induce bone loss, and then treating the damage with either WERC or a vehicle for seven days. After the experiment, researchers harvested the femur for further analysis.
• A high-performance liquid chromatography analysis revealed the presence of three compounds (emodin, chrysophanol, and physcion) in WERC.
• In vitro tests were conducted using alizarin red S staining or tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase staining and assay, among others.
• The findings revealed that WERC prevented trabecular bone loss after RANKL induction by containing microstructural deterioration. It also revealed that WERC also improved bone formation as well as osteoclast differentiation.

Researchers concluded that WERC can protect against osteoporosis.

Find the full text of the study at this link.

Learn more plants that help with bone development at Herbs.news.

Journal Reference:

Shim KS, Lee B, Ma JY. WATER EXTRACT OF RUMEX CRISPUS PREVENTS BONE LOSS BY INHIBITING OSTEOCLASTOGENESIS AND INDUCING OSTEOBLAST MINERALIZATION. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2017;17(483). DOI: 10.1186/s12906-017-1986-7