The in vitro anti-osteoporotic activity of some diarylheptanoids and lignans from the rhizomes of Dioscorea spongiosa.

Three diarylheptanoids and three lignans from the 90 % ethanol fraction of the rhizomes of DIOSCOREA SPONGIOSA were isolated and subjected to IN VITRO experiments to investigate their activity on osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Diarylheptanoid 1 and furofuran lignan 6 were found to significantly stimulate the proliferation of primary osteoblasts and 6 also mildly stimulated osteoblast mineralization by mouse calvaria osteoblastic cells. All diarylheptanoids and lignans at a concentration of 200 muM completely inhibited the formation of osteoclast-like cells. These results demonstrate that the isolated diarylheptanoids and lignans in the 90 % ethanol fraction have significant anti-osteoporotic activities.