Abstract:
PURPOSE: A composition containing a chitosan is provided to promote osteoblast differentiation, prevent and treat osteoarthritis and/or osteoporosis. CONSTITUTION: A composition for promoting osteoblast differentiation contains chitosan as an active ingredient. The chitosan is water-soluble free amine chitosan. The composition contains 0.1-10 ug/ml of 1000 Da chitosan and 0.01-10 ug/ml of 100kDa or more chitosan. An osteogenic differentiation medium composition contains the chitosan as an active ingredient. A pharmaceutical composition for preventing and treating osteoarthritis and osteoporosis also contains the chitosan as an active ingredient.