Acerogenin A, a natural compound isolated from Acer nikoense Maxim, stimulates osteoblast differentiation through bone morphogenetic protein action

► Acerogenin A stimulated osteoblast differentiation in osteogenic cells. ► Acerogenin A-induced osteoblast differentiation was inhibited by noggin. ► Acerogenin A increased Bmp-2, Bmp-4 and Bmp-7 mRNA expression in MC3T3-E1 cells. ► Acerogenin A is a candidate agent for stimulating bone formation.