O’Gorman et al. 2012

The Marine-derived, Multi-Mineral Formula, Aquamin, Enhances Mineralisation of Osteoblast Cells In Vitro

DM O’Gorman, CM Tierney, O Brennan, FJ O’Brien

Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland

Phytotherapy Research 2012, 26(3):375-380

Background / Details:

To analyse the mineralisation of immature pre-osteoblasts to mature osteoblasts (bone cells) in cell culture media containing osteoblastic (growth) factors (ascorbic acid, β-glycerophosphate & dexamethasone) only or osteoblastic factors plus Aquamin over 28 days.

Result: 

  • The addition of Aquamin to the growth media did not negatively effect cell growth, cell number, cell metabolism or alkaline phosphatase expression over the 28 day experiment (results not shown). 
  • Von Kossa staining is highly specific for calcium/phosphate mineralisation and showed no difference between the control and Aquamin treated cells at 28 days (Fig 1A & 1B). 
  • Alizarin Red S staining is normally used to detect calcium deposits but it also detects magnesium, manganese, barium, strontium and iron deposits. This test showed significantly more mineral deposits in Aquamin treated cells as compared to control (Fig 1C & 1D). Figure 2 also shows the effect of Aquamin on mineral deposition. The mineral deposited at day 28 in the Aquamin group was 24.4-fold higher than the mineral level in the Aquamin group at day 1. Mineral deposition at day 28 control group was only 8-fold higher compared to day 1 control group.

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