Inhibitory effects of Ficus erecta leaves on osteoporotic factors in vitro

Osteoporosis is recognized as a major concern among menopausal women and the elderly. When estrogen is reduced in the body, local factors such as IL-1β, IL-6 and PGE₂, which are known to be related to bone resorption, are increased and promote osteoclastogenesis, which is responsible for bone resorption and results in the clinical disorder osteoporosis. In this study, we investigated the anti-osteoporotic activity of Ficus erecta. MG-63 cells were stimulated with IL-1β (10 ng/mL) to induce osteoporotic factors (IL-6, COX-2 and PGE₂) and RAW 264.7 cells were stimulated with RANKL (100 ng/mL) to induce their differentiation into osteoclasts. We found F. erecta fractions decreased the mRNA expression of IL-6 and COX-2, and protein levels of COX-2 and PGE₂ production. Among sequential solvent fractions, hexane and EtOAc fractions decreased differentiation into osteoclasts of RAW 264.7 cells. These results suggest that F. erecta may have significant effects on osteoporotic factors and may be provided as a possible anti-osteoporotic therapeutic plant.