ent-Kaurane Diterpenoids from Croton tonkinensis Stimulate Osteoblast Differentiation

Four new ent-kaurane diterpenoids (1-4) were isolated from the leaves of Croton tonkinensis by bioactivity-guided fractionation using an in vitro osteoblast differentiation assay. Their structures were identified as ent-11 beta-acetoxykaur-16-en-18-ol (1), ent-11 alpha-hydroxy-18-acetoxykaur-16-ene (2), ent-14 beta-hydroxy-18-acetoxykaur-16-ene (3), and ent-7 alpha-hydroxy-18-acetoxykaur-16-ene (4). Compounds 1-4 significantly increased alkaline phosphatase activity and osteoblastic gene promoter activity. Compounds 1-3 also increased the levels of ALP and collagen type I alpha mRNA in C2C12 cells in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that ent-kaurane diterpenoids from C. tonkinensis have a direct stimulatory effect on osteoblast differentiation and may be potential therapeutic molecules against bone diseases such as osteoporosis.