Polyphenol-rich extract from Wisteria floribunda (Willd.) DC. flowers promotes osteoblast differentiation and bone formation by modulating the mTOR pathway

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the osteogenic effects of polyphenol-rich extracts from Wisteria floribunda (Willd.) DC. (W. floribunda) flowers and elucidate the underlying mechanisms.

Methods: Polyphenolic compounds of W. floribunda extracts were analyzed, including flavonoids and glucoside derivatives. Osteogenic activity was assessed in MC3T3-E1 preosteoblast cells by measurement of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, alizarin red S staining, and the expression of osteogenic markers (RUNX2, SP7, and ALPL). In vivo effects were evaluated in zebrafish larvae by assessing skeletal development and expression of osteogenic genes (runx2a, sp7, and alpl). The role of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway was examined using rapamycin.

Results: W. floribunda extracts significantly enhanced ALP activity, bone mineralization, and the expression of RUNX2, SP7, and ALPL in MC3T3-E1 cells. In zebrafish larvae, W. floribunda extracts improved vertebral mineralization and upregulated osteogenic genes. Mechanistically, the plant extract activated the mTOR pathway, and rapamycin treatment attenuated the extracts-induced ALP activity, mineralization, and vertebral formation in zebrafish, confirming mTOR involvement.

Conclusions: W. floribunda extracts promote osteoblast differentiation and bone formation via mTOR pathway activation. These findings provide novel insights into the potential of W. floribunda extracts and support its further investigation as a natural therapeutic candidate for bone degenerative disorders such as osteoporosis.

Keywords

Wisteria floribunda (Willd.) DC. / Osteogenesis / Bone formation / mTOR / Zebrafish

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Funding

This research was supported by the 2024 scientific promotion program funded by Jeju National University.

Data availability statement

The data supporting the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon request.

Authors’ contributions

JACCJ performed the experimental study and wrote original draft. KTL provided resources and performed the experimental study. CYJ, YHC, CSL and MJJ conceptualized this study, interpreted the experimental data, and reviewed original draft. GYK designed and conceptualized and supervised the experimental study, interpreted the experimental data, reviewed original draft, and acquired funding.

Publisher’s note

The Publisher of the Journal remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

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