Seeds of Carthamus tinctorius L. has been used for the treatment of bone fracture and osteoporosis in traditional Korean medicine. The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of extract of seeds of Carthamus tinctorius L. on mineralization in periodontal ligament cells and osteoblastic cells. Periodontal ligament cells were primarily obtained from a extracted premolars with non-periodontal diseases. Osteoblastic cells were obtained from calvariae of a fetal rat. Cells were cultured with DMEM at 37degrees C with 5% CO₂ in 100% humidity incubator. Alkaline phosphatase(ALP) level and the number of calcification nodules were examined and western blot analysis using osteonectin was performed.

Measurements of ALP levels and calcification nodules showed that extract of seeds of Carthamus tinctorius L. had significantly higher activity than control in all of both cells. In western blot analysis, protein expression of osteonectin indicated that extract of seeds of Carthamus tinctorius L. showed an increased pattern than control in all of both cells.

From the above results, it seems that extract of seeds of Carthamus tinctorius L. has excellent effect on mineralization in periodontal ligament cells and osteoblastic cells.