Barley Seedling Extracts Inhibit RANKL-Induced Differentiation, Fusion, and Maturation of Osteoclasts in the Early-to-Late Stages of Osteoclastogenesis

The number of patients with osteoporosis is increasing worldwide, and a decrease in bone mass is a main risk factor for fracture. The prevention of bone loss is critical for improving the quality of life for patients. However, the long-term use of antiosteoporotic agents is limited due to their side effects. Barley has been traditionally ingested for thousands of years as a safe, natural food with pharmaceutical properties, and its seedling can enhance the biological activity of the medicinal components found in food. This study aimed to clarify the antiresorptive activity of barley seedling and its mode of action. Barley seedling extracts (BSE) dose-dependently inhibited RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation with alteration of IκB degradation, c-Fos, and NFATc1 molecules in the early-to-middle stages of osteoclastogenesis. In the late phase of osteoclastogenesis, BSE also prevented DC-STAMP and cathepsin K, which are required for cell fusion and bone degradation, such as osteoclast function. In conclusion, barley seedling from natural foods may provide long-term safety and be useful for the prevention or treatment of osteoclast-mediated bone metabolic diseases, including osteoporosis.

Effects of Superabsorbent and Irrigation Regime on Seedling Growth Characteristics of Barley (Hordeum Vulgare L.)

Greenhouse experiment was carried out to study the effects of superabsorbent and water deficit stress on seedling growth of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) in Urmia University of Iran. Three amounts of superabsorbent polymer (0 (S1), 2 (S2) and 4 g (S3) were mixed with 500 g soil before sowing, and four levels of irrigation regimes (irrigation at 20 (I1), 40 (I2), 60 (I3) and 80% (I3) field capacity) were set as treatments. The root length, root volume, root and shoot dry weight, plant height, leaf length, leaf width, SPAD and root-shoot ratio were affected by treatments. Means comparisons indicated that the highest root length (19 cm) observed in the I4 irrigation regime and the lowest of it (16.18 cm) obtained in I1 condition. Barley plants that received 4 g and no superabsorbent had the utmost (1.13 cm) and lowest (0.54 cm) root volume, respectively. Whereas plant situated in I4 and I1 irrigation regimes produced greatest and smallest amount amount of shoot dry weight and SPAD. The maximum (12.83 cm) and minimum (8.33 cm) leaf length was obtained from S3I3 and S1I1 condition, respectively. Generally, the results showed the most of measured barley seedling traits in irrigation at 40 % field capacity (I2) were the equal with I3 and I4 irrigation regimes treatments, which indicated the resistance of barley seedling to the water deficit stress. Also, we found that the improving of root dry weight and root volume of barley seedling along with increasing in the superabsorbent application.