COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF OIL PALM LEAF EXTRACTS AND VITAMIN C ON OSTEOBLASTIC ACTIVITY AND MINERALISATION IN MC3T3-E1 CELLS AS POTENTIAL ANTI-OSTEOPOROTIC AGENTS

Osteoporosis is a widespread bone disorder characterised by impaired bone remodelling and increased oxidative stress.Oil palm leaf extracts (OPLEs), a by-product of the palm oil industry, are rich in bioactive flavonoids and phenolic compounds with antioxidant and phytoestrogenic properties, yet their effects on bone health remain underexplored.This study investigated the osteogenic potential of methanolic (MEOPL) and ethanolic (EEOPL) oil palm leaf extracts in murine pre-osteoblast MC3T3-E1 cells, with vitamin C as a comparator.Cell viability, osteoblastic differentiation and mineralisation were assessed using MTT, Alizarin red S, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, Sirius red, crystal violet, von Kossa staining and RT-qPCR for RUNX2 gene expression.MEOPL significantly enhanced cell viability, osteoblastic differentiation, mineralisation and RUNX2 expression compared with vitamin C, which showed dose-dependent cytotoxicity at higher concentrations.These findings highlight MEOPL as a promising plant-based therapeutic candidate for the management of osteoporosis.By demonstrating superior osteogenic effects to vitamin C in vitro, MEOPL provides a rationale for further preclinical and clinical investigations into its potential as a safe, natural alternative to conventional osteoporosis therapies.