In vitro investigation of the effect of formononetin on osteoblast cells

It is known that systemic intake of phytoestrogens creates an estrogenic effect on bone tissue and protects the physical and chemical structure of the bone. In this study, we aimed to investigate in vitro whether the formononetin, has an effect on osteoblast cells alone or in the presence of graft material. Human fetal osteoblast cells (hFOB1.19) with or without bone graft materials were incubated with formononetin at concentrations of 1 µg/ml, 10 µg/ml and 100 µg/ml. The effect of the molecule on osteoblasts was evaluated by MTT and ALP tests performed on the 1st, 6th and 9th days and VEGF and osteocalcin protein analyzes performed on the 9th day. As a result of the 6-day incubation of osteoblast cells with only the graft material, it was observed that cell proliferation decreased, and in the presence of formononetin with the graft material, this situation was reversed and proliferation increased depending on the dose. It was observed that ALP activity increased when there was graft material or formononetin in the environment, and when the two were present together, they created a synergistic effect on ALP activity. After the 9-day incubation period, as a result of the Western-Blot method, the highest VEGF density was observed in the group with the graft material and 100 µg/ml formononetin. These findings, which show that formononetin increases ALP activity and VEGF synthesis in osteoblasts, indicate that the molecule may have the potential to increase new bone formation and vascularization at the augmentation site. Key Words: Formononetin, Osteoblast, Phytoestrogen, Bone healing, ALP The present work was supported by the Research Fund of Istanbul University. Project No. 31492