Sandhika is a polyherbal formulation, (water soluble fraction of Commiphora mukul, Boswellia serrata, Semecarpus anacardium and Strychnos nux vomica), which has been in clinical use in India for last 20 years. Its modified formulation BHUx has shown specific inhibition of
cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and
lipoxygenase (LOX)-15 and has prevented diet-induced
atherosclerosis in rabbits. In order to explore the possibility of the use of
Sandhika for the management of
osteoporosis, we have examined its influence on MC3T3-E1 osteoblast-like cells in presence of
lipopolysaccharide (1 microg/ml) in terms of
calcium nodule formation and
alkaline phosphatase activity. MC3T3-E1 osteoblast-like cells (80% confluence in 6-well plates) were treated with water extract of
Sandhika, for 10 days, in the concentration range of 0.5 to 16 mg/ml final concentration, in presence of LPS. Media was changed on every third day and culture supernatant was collected after every change to assess the
alkaline phosphatase activity and on the tenth day, cells were washed and stained with "
Alizarin S" for visualization of
calcium nodules by using Meta Morph software (Universal Imaging, Downingtown, PA). The results showed significant enhancement in
calcium nodule formation in the dose dependent manner up to 2 mg/ml, followed by gradual decrease at higher concentrations. This change was accompanied with the increase in the
alkaline phosphatase activity in these plates, indicating a potential
anabolic effect of this polyherbal formulation on osteoblast-like cells under inflammatory conditions induced by LPS.