Journal Article

Naringin promotes osteoblast differentiation and ameliorates osteoporosis in ovariectomized mice

Fu, Xing, Li, Dian, Yang, Zhijun, Hu, Jihui, Yang, Fengyun, Cui, Yubo, Yang, Wenlong, Yu, Guisong

2025

Overview

This study aimed to investigate the anti-osteoporotic mechanisms of naringin in osteoblasts and mice. In vitro, MC3T3-E1 cells were treated with naringin to detect cell proliferation, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and calcified nodule formation. Western blot was used to analyze the expression of osteogenic markers (OPN, COL1A1, RUNX2) and Wnt/β-catenin pathway proteins (Wnt3a, β-catenin). In vivo, ovariectomized (OVX) mice were treated with naringin for 3 months to observe bone microstructure, femoral histomorphology, and marker expression. Results showed that 0.1, 0.5, and 1 µmol/L naringin significantly promoted cell proliferation, enhanced ALP activity, and increased calcified nodule formation. Naringin also improved bone mineral density (BMD) and trabecular bone number in OVX mice. It elevated serum levels of bone formation markers (P1NP, OCN) while reducing the bone resorption marker CTX-1. Both in vitro and in vivo, naringin upregulated OPN, COL1A1, RUNX2, Wnt3a, and β-catenin expression, and induced β-catenin nuclear translocation. Notably, naringin antagonized the inhibitory effects of XAV939 (a Wnt/β-catenin pathway inhibitor) on OPN, COL1A1, and RUNX2 protein expression. These findings demonstrate that naringin enhances bone density in OVX mice and promotes osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells via activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group UK,Nature Publishing Group,Nature Portfolio
• Subject: 692/1537/805 / 692/698/1671/63 / 692/699/2743 / Alkaline phosphatase / Animals / beta Catenin - metabolism / Bone density / Bone Density - drug effects / Bone growth / Bone mineral density / Bone resorption / Calcification / Cancellous bone / Cbfa-1 protein / Cell activation / Cell differentiation / Cell Differentiation - drug effects / Cell growth / Cell Line / Cell proliferation / Cell Proliferation - drug effects / Collagen (type I) / Collagen Type I - metabolism / Collagen Type I, alpha 1 Chain / Female / Flavanones - pharmacology / Humanities and Social Sciences / Mice / multidisciplinary / Naringin / Nodules / Nuclear transport / Osteoblastogenesis / Osteoblasts / Osteoblasts - cytology / Osteoblasts - drug effects / Osteoblasts - metabolism / Osteogenesis / Osteogenesis - drug effects / Osteoporosis / Osteoporosis - drug therapy / Osteoporosis - metabolism / Osteoporosis - pathology / Ovariectomy / OVX / Science / Science (multidisciplinary) / Serum levels / Translocation / Wnt protein / Wnt Signaling Pathway - drug effects / Wnt/β-catenin / β-Catenin