Synergism between the aqueous extract of saffron (Crocus sativus L) and vitamin D3 on osteogenic differentiation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells

Saffron has the various significant pharmacological effects.Vitamin D3 is also involved in differentiation and functions in various cells. This study aimed to investigate the synergetic effects of the aqueous extract of saffron and vitamin D3 on the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells into osteoblasts. Flushing method was used to extract mesenchymal stem cells. Immunocytochemistry agonist CD44 antigen was also used to verify the identification of stem cells. In the experimental group, cells were treated with 600,700,800 mg/l doses of the saffron extract and the above-mentioned doses of saffron with 5×10-7 M of vitamin D3 were used to induce differentiation. The control group did not receive any treatment. Cell differentiation was evaluated by the alkaline phosphatase activity assay after 10 days and Alizarin Red staining was also performed 21 days after the treatment. Alkaline phosphatase activity in the vitamin D3 and saffron groups showed a significant increase compared to the control groups. The activity of this enzyme in the combined treatment groups showed a significant increase compared to their single use. The Alizarin Red staining showed the differentiative effects of vitamin D3, saffron and their coadministration in the differentiation of stem cells into osteoblast.The saffron and Vitamin D3 coadministration has the most profound effect on the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cell into osteoblast. The results indicate that the coadministration of saffron and vitamin D3 has a significant effect on the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cell into osteoblast cells.