Effects of Asparagus cochinchinensis (Lour.) Merr. on the Stimulation of Osteoblast Differentiation and Inhibition of Osteoclast Generation

Bone mass in adults decreases with age because of the imbalance between the rate of bone formation and resorption. We performed this study to investigate whether Asparagus cochinchinensis (Lour.) Merr. (ACAE) plays a role in osteoblasts differentiation and osteoclasts formation. Ethanol extract of ACAE showed increase in the differentiation and alkaline phosphatase activity of osteoblasts. Also, it decreased the number of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive multinucleated cells (OCLs) and TRAP activity. Therefore, ACAE has the potential to prevent bone-related diseases such as osteoporosis by increasing the differentiation of osteoblasts and reducing both the number and activity of osteoclasts.