Rosemary Extract, a serum supplement and inducer of human adipose stem cells proliferation in vitro

Rosemary leaf extract, as a medicinal plant, can stimulate stem cells proliferation. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of rosemary extract on the proliferation and survival of human adipose stem cells (hASCs).

In this experimental study, fat tissue was isolated from Caesarean women at Damgan Hospital. Extracted cells were cultured in α–MEM (Alpha-Dulbecco’s modified minimal essential medium) containing 10% FBS. Stemness of cells was confirmed by flow cytometry and expression of CD44, CD105, CD73, CD90, CD34, CD45 markers of 106 cells and their differentiation potential. The survival rate, proliferation of cells treated with 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 µg/ml concentrations of Rosemary extract containing 40% of carnosic acid for 24 and 48h were evaluated using hoemocytometry, MTT and PCR assays.MTT: [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide] PCR: Polymerase chain reaction.The data were analyzed using Spss software (version 16), with Tukey test and the level of significance was considered 0.05.

Cultured hASCs showed spindle and fibroblastic shapes under microscopic study. They expressed positive response to CD44, CD73, CD90, CD105 and negative response to CD34 and CD45markers and differentiated into adipocytes and osteocytes. The proliferation rate and survival of cells treated with Rosemary at a concentration of 50 μg/ml for 48 h were increased significantly (P≤0.05), as compared to cultured cells in medium without Rosemary, containing serum.

Rosemary extract as a supplement to the serum can increase the rate of proliferation and survival of hASCs, making the cells more suitable for transplantation.