Evaluation of preadministration of chasteberry in the modulation of apoptosis of MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells exposed to hydrogen peroxide.

Abstract

Osteoporosis is a multifactorial disease of high prevalence in the population, leading to the loss of bone mass and an imbalance in bone remodeling. The association between this imbalance and estrogen deficiency that occurs in menopausal women is still investigated, suggesting that the reduction in estrogen production by the body itself after menopause favors oxidative stress with the consequent change in the functional activity of bone cells. Evidence shows that phytoestrogens can be used as an alternative treatment for postmenopausal osteoporosis due to their ability to bind to estrogen receptors in the body, which would lead to an increase in the rate of deposition and reduction the rate of bone resorption, in addition to having an antioxidant effect, acting to protect cells against the effects caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Therefore, the purpose of the present investigation is to evaluate the effect of vitex agnus-castus/VX (chaste berry) in the modulation of apoptosis of MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells in the presence and absence of oxidative stress. For in vitro analysis, osteoblastic lineage MC3T3-E1 cells will be cultured and divided into control groups and groups with in vitro induction of oxidative stress, receiving or not the addition of 80 ug/ml VX. The cell groups will be submitted to apoptosis assay using flow cytometry with anexin V and propidium iodide for all experimental groups after 48 hours. The data obtained will be statistically analyzed by the Graph Pad Prism 5.0 software with a significance level of 5%.