Park YS, et al. Nutr Res Pract. 2011 Aug;5(4):281-287. http://dx.doi.org/10.4162/nrp.2011.5.4.281

Park MH, et al. Nutr Res Pract. 2016 Apr;10(2):148-153. https://doi.org/10.4162/nrp.2016.10.2.148

Osteoporosis is characterized by reduction in bone mass and microarchitectural deterioration of the bone, which causes bone fragility and fracture susceptibility. Ishige sinicola, a brown alga, reportedly affects osteoblast differentiation. However, its protective effect on estrogen deficiency-induced bone loss has not been elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the effect of I. sinicola extract (ISE) on ovariectomy (OVX)-induced bone loss in vivo and osteoclastogenesis in vitro. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to the sham-operated (SHAM) group and four OVX subgroups: SHAM, OVX, ISE20 (20 mg/kg), ISE200 (200 mg/kg), and estradiol (10 μg/kg). After 6 weeks of treatment, the bone mineral density (BMD), femur indices, and serum biomarker levels were measured. Furthermore, the effects of ISE on osteoclastogenesis and the expression of osteoclast-specific markers were measured. ISE administration improved the trabecular bone structure, bone biomechanical properties, BMD, and bone mineralization degree. In addition, the levels of serum bone turnover markers were decreased in the ISE group compared with those in the OVX group. Moreover, ISE inhibited osteoclast formation by downregulating NFATc1, TRAP, c-Src, c-Fos, and cathepsin K without any cytotoxic effects on RANKL-induced osteoclast formation. Therefore, we suggest that ISE has therapeutic potential in postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Chong Li, Jeong Hyeon Kang, Kyung Im Jung, Mi Hwa Park, and Mihyang Kim. Prev Nutr Food Sci 2024;29:146-53. https://doi.org/10.3746/pnf.2024.29.2.146

Jeong Hyeon Kang, Kyung Im Jung, Mi Hwa Park, Geun Hye Oh, and Mihyang Kim. Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition 2023;52:450-9. https://doi.org/10.3746/jkfn.2023.52.5.450