Germinated soy germ with increased soyasaponin Ab improves BMP-2-induced bone formation and protects against in vivo bone loss in osteoporosis

Abstract

Osteoporosis is frequently induced following menopause, and bone fractures result in serious problems including skeletal deformity, pain, and increased mortality. Therefore, safe and effective therapeutic agents are needed for osteoporosis. This study aimed to clarify the bone protecting effects of germinated soy germ extracts (GSGE) and their mode of action. GSGE increased expression of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and osteocalcin (OCL) by stimulating the expression of runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) and osterix (Osx) through activation of Smad signaling molecules. Furthermore, germination of soy germ increased levels of nutritional components, especially soyasaponin Ab. The anabolic activity of soyasaponin Ab in GSGE was also evaluated. GSGE and soyasaponin Ab significantly protected against ovariectomy (OVX)-induced bone loss and improved bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BALP) level in mouse serum. These in vitro and in vivo study results demonstrated that GSGE and soyasaponin Ab have potential as therapeutic candidate agents for bone protection in postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Germinated Soybean Embryo Extract Ameliorates Fatty Liver Injury in High-Fat Diet-Fed Obese Mice

“…However, treatment with the GSEE (45 mg/kg) lowered the HFD-induced body weight gain by 32.6% without any abnormal clinical symptoms. Since GSEE has been shown to be safe to animals and cultured cells in previous studies [ 26 , 27 ], the decrease in body weight by GSEE in our study was considered as the anti-obesity effect, not an adverse effect of this extract. The levels of serum lipid-related markers, such as total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoproteins (HDL), low-density lipoproteins (LDL), and free fatty acids (FFA), as well as LDL/TC and LDL/HDL ratios, were also shown to be elevated by HFD ( Figure 3 ).…”

“…Despite their hepatoprotective effects [ 24 ], the therapeutic use of soy embryos can be limited due to their tiny size. Recent studies have shown that the germination process of soy embryos can markedly enrich the amount of bioactive substances in the germ [ 25 , 26 , 27 ]. The soyasaponin Ab concentration in the extract of germinated soybean embryos was shown to be 35.1 and 1.5 times higher than that in the whole soy and embryo, respectively [ 26 , 27 ].…”

“…Recent studies have shown that the germination process of soy embryos can markedly enrich the amount of bioactive substances in the germ [ 25 , 26 , 27 ]. The soyasaponin Ab concentration in the extract of germinated soybean embryos was shown to be 35.1 and 1.5 times higher than that in the whole soy and embryo, respectively [ 26 , 27 ]. After 24 h of germination, the concentrations of soy isoflavones, namely genistein, daidzein, and glycitein, were found to be increased by 39.1%, 21.4% and 31.1%, respectively [ 25 ].…”

“…Notably, the dietary intake of soybean embryo powder was shown to inhibit obesity and NAFLD in HFD-fed mice [ 24 ]. Recently, it was found that germination of the soybean embryo increases soyasaponin Ab and total isoflavone contents when compared to those found in the embryo before germination [ 25 , 26 ]. Moreover, an extract of the germinated soybean embryo was shown to effectively reduce body weight gain and adipose tissue size in an obese mouse model by upregulating lipolysis and β-oxidation in the adipose tissue and promoting white adipose tissue (WAT) browning [ 27 ].…”

The Dual Role of Oat Bran Water Extract in Bone Homeostasis Through the Regulation of Osteoclastogenesis and Osteoblast Differentiation

“…All osteoblast-mediated experiments were executed as previously described with modifications [52]. Mouse mesenchymal precursor C2C12 cells were from the were fixed in 3.5% formaldehyde for 1 d. The fixed femurs were scanned and analyzed with the SkyScan 1272 micro-CT imaging system provided by Bruker (Billerica, MA).…”