In this study, the antioxidative activity of Artemisia capillaris T. extract on the proliferation and differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells under H_2O_2-induced oxidative stress was investigated in order to determine its protective effect against oxidative stress as well as its availability as an antioxidant material related to treatment of bone diseases. As a result, the total polyphenol content of A. capillaris extract was 90.10 mg/g, whereas the flavonoid content was 4.45 mg/g. A. capillaris extract increased proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells under H_2O_2-induced oxidative stress, and also increased the proliferation of differentiated osteoblast cells under oxidative stress. In addition, two differentiation markers, alkaline phosphatase activity and mineralization level, in A. capillaris extract tended to increase. These results indicate that A. capillaris extract suppresses the damage to osteoblasts caused by oxidative stress, which demonstrates its availability as an antioxidant material for preventing bone diseases.

Keywords: osteoblast, MC3T3-E1 cell, Artemisia capillaris T., reactive oxygen species, antioxidant, differentiation