Osteoporosis is a disease caused by impaired bone remodeling that is especially prevalent in elderly and postmenopausal women. Although numerous chemical agents have been developed to prevent osteoporosis, arguments remain regarding their side effects. Here, we demonstrated the effects of loganin, a single bioactive compound isolated from Cornus officinalis, on osteoblast and osteoclast differentiation in vitro and on ovariectomy (OVX)-induced osteoporosis in mice in vivo. Loganin treatment increased the differentiation of mouse preosteoblast cells into osteoblasts and suppressed osteoclast differentiation in primary monocytes by regulating the mRNA expression levels of differentiation markers. Similar results were obtained in an osteoblast–osteoclast co-culture system, which showed that loganin enhanced alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and reduced TRAP activity. In in vivo experiments, the oral administration of loganin prevented the OVX-induced loss of bone mineral density (BMD) and microstructure in mice and improved bone parameters. In addition, loganin significantly increased the serum OPG/RANKL ratio and promoted osteogenic activity during bone remodeling. Our findings suggest that loganin could be used as an alternative treatment to protect against osteoporosis.

Obesity is characterized by the excessive accumulation of mature adipocytes that store surplus energy in the form of lipids. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effects of loganin on adipogenesis in mouse preadipocyte 3T3-L1 cells and primary cultured adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) in vitro and in mice with ovariectomy (OVX)- and high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity in vivo. For an in vitro study, loganin was co-incubated during adipogenesis in both 3T3-L1 cells and ADSCs, lipid droplets were evaluated by oil red O staining, and adipogenesis-related factors were assessed by qRT-PCR. For in vivo studies, mouse models of OVX- and HFD-induced obesity were orally administered with loganin, body weight was measured, and hepatic steatosis and development of excessive fat were evaluated by histological analysis. Loganin treatment reduced adipocyte differentiation by accumulating lipid droplets through the downregulation of adipogenesis-related factors, including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (Pparg), CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α (Cebpa), perilipin 2 (Plin2), fatty acid synthase (Fasn), and sterol regulatory element binding transcription protein 1 (Srebp1). Loganin administration prevented weight gain in mouse models of obesity induced by OVX and HFD. Further, loganin inhibited metabolic abnormalities, such as hepatic steatosis and adipocyte enlargement, and increased the serum levels of leptin and insulin in both OVX- and HFD-induced obesity models. These results suggest that loganin is a potential candidate for preventing and treating obesity.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the progressive destruction of articular cartilage with severe symptoms, including pain and stiffness. We investigated the anti-osteoarthritic effects of Prunella vulgaris (PV) and Gentiana lutea (GL) extract in primary cultured chondrocytes RAW 264.7 cells in vitro and destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM)-induced OA mice in vivo. Primary chondrocytes were induced with IL-1β, and RAW 264.7 cells were treated with LPS and co-incubated with either individual extracts of PV and GL or different ratios of PV and GL mixture. For the OA animal model, the medial meniscus (DMM) was destabilized in 9-week-old male C57BL/6 mice. Treatment of individual PV and GL and combination of PV and GL extracts inhibited the mRNA expression level of COX2 in chondrocytes and RAW 264.7 cells. The optimized inhibitory effect was attained with a PV and GL combination at an 8:2 ratio (PG) without cytotoxic effects. PG extracts prevented the expression of catabolic factors (COX2, Mmp3, Mmp9, and Mmp13) and inflammatory mediator levels (PGE2 and collagenase). In addition, PG decreased subchondral sclerosis and increased BMD in the subchondral region of DMM-induced OA mice with protection of articular cartilage destruction by inhibiting inflammatory processes. This study suggests that PG may be an alternative medicinal herb for treatment of OA.

Actin dynamics, mediated by various actin-binding proteins, plays an important role in adipocyte differentiation. We investigated the role of coactosin-like F-actin binding protein (Cotl1) in adipocyte differentiation in vitro and in vivo. Cotl1 expression level was increased during adipocyte differentiation in mouse 3T3-L1 cells and primary cultured adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) and during weight gain in adipose tissues. However, Cotl1 deficient in 3T3-L1 and ADSCs inhibited adipocyte differentiation, and Cotl1^−/− mice displayed resistance to high-fat diet (HFD)-induced weight gain, hepatic steatosis and adipocyte enlargement compared to HFD-fed wild type (WT) mice. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis of RNA-sequencing in adipose tissues of HFD-WT and HFD-Cotl1^−/− mice predicted complicated relationships between Cotl1, differentiation of adipocytes, obesity and organization of actin cytoskeleton. Particularly, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (Pparg) emerged as a central player, with Cotl1 influencing Pparg expression, consequently regulating adipocyte differentiation. These findings suggest Cotl1 as a pivotal regulator of terminal adipocyte differentiation by modulating adipogenic genes.

Obesity, characterized by excessive adipose tissue accumulation, is an important risk factor for the development of several chronic conditions, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of kukoamine B (KB), a major component of the Lycii Radicis Cortex (LRC), on adipogenesis and lipid accumulation in vitro and further assess its role in obesity in vivo. For the in vitro experiments, 3T3-L1 cells and primary-cultured adipose-derived stem cells were used. Lipid accumulation was measured using Oil Red O staining, and adipogenesis-related gene expression was assessed using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. For the in vivo experiments, LRC or KB was orally administered to ovariectomized and high-fat diet-induced obese mice. LRC exhibited antiadipogenic and antiobesity effects in vitro and in vivo experiments. Fractionation of the LRC extract identified KB as a bio-active component. KB treatment resulted in a dose-dependent reduction in lipid droplet formation and downregulation of adipogenesis-related genes, including Pparg, Cebpa, Srebp1, Fasn, and Plin2, in both cell types. Western blot analysis revealed that KB significantly suppressed the protein expression of key adipogenic factors, including phosphorylated CREB, CEBPB, PPARG, and CEBPA. In vivo, KB administration significantly reduced body weight gain, hepatic steatosis, and adipocyte hypertrophy in both mouse models. These results suggest that KB is a potential therapeutic agent for the prevention and treatment of obesity. Further rigorous investigations, including human clinical trials, are necessary to fully elucidate the safety profile, optimal dosing regimens, and long-term effects of KB.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disorder characterized by progressive articular cartilage degradation, leading to pain, stiffness, and impaired mobility. This study investigated the anti-osteoarthritic effects of Lindera obtusiloba (LO) leaf extract in primary cultured chondrocytes and a mouse model of destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM)-induced OA. Mouse primary chondrocytes were treated with IL-1β and various concentrations of LO leaf extract (50–150 μg/mL), and analyzed by RT-PCR, Western blotting, and ELISA. For the in vivo experiments, male C57BL/6 mice underwent DMM surgery and were administered LO leaf extract (50–200 mg/kg/day) for eight weeks, followed by micro-CT, histological, and immunohistochemical analyses. LO leaf extract exhibited no cytotoxicity in chondrocytes. In interleukin-1β-induced inflammatory chondrocytes, LO leaf extract significantly suppressed the expression of OA-associated catabolic factors, including cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2), matrix metalloproteinases (MMP3 and MMP13), and phosphorylated nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB). It also reduced the production of destructive mediators, such as prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) and collagenase, in a dose-dependent manner. In vivo, LO leaf extract-treated mice demonstrated significant reductions in articular cartilage degradation, subchondral bone sclerosis, and the expression of catabolic and inflammatory mediators. Additionally, LO leaf extract administration significantly decreased systemic pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in DMM-induced mice. Collectively, these findings indicate that LO leaf extract attenuates OA progression by suppressing both local and systemic inflammatory responses, supporting its potential as a natural therapeutic agent for the prevention and treatment of OA.