Effects of herbal Epimedium on the improvement of bone metabolic disorder through the induction of osteogenic differentiation from bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells

Abstract

Herbal Epimedium (HE) has been commonly used as a tonic, antirheumatic agent and in the treatment of bone-associated diseases including osteoporosis. Treatment for osteoporosis is important to increase bone mass density and maintain to balance of bone remodeling. The present study was performed to investigate the effects of HE on mouse bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (mBMMSC) proliferation and osteogenic differentiation, using MTT assays, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) detection and apoptosis and differentiation assays. HE was demonstrated to inhibit the proliferation of mBMMSCs up to 45.43±3.33% and to decrease the level of PCNA expression compared with untreated cells. HE also induced late apoptosis at 24 and 48 h after treatment up to 71.93 and 67.03%, respectively, while only 14.93% of untreated cells exhibited apoptosis. By contrast, HE induced differentiation of mBMMSCs into an osteogenic lineage at the beginning of three weeks after commencement of treatment. This suggested that HE is a candidate as an inducer of osteogenesis from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, and additionally has potential for use in the treatment of bone metabolic disorders such as osteoporosis.

miR-27a-5p—Abundant Small Extracellular Vesicles Derived From Epimedium-Preconditioned Bone Mesenchymal Stem Cells Stimulate Osteogenesis by Targeting Atg4B-Mediated Autophagy

“…Furthermore, data showed that different concentrations of the water extract of EPI stimulated the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs. These findings were in accordance with our previous study, as well as other studies ( Kim et al, 2017 ; Yang et al, 2019 ).…”

Mining Therapeutic Efficacy from Treasure Chest of Biodiversity and Chemodiversity: Pharmacophylogeny of Ranunculales Medicinal Plants

“…(80) Hederagenin and saponins were isolated from A. quinata fruit. (81,82) Akebia saponin D is present in both Akebia and Dipsacaceae. (83) Pentacyclic triterpene saponins, e.g., akebiaoside K and akebiaoside N, were isolated from leaves of A. trifoliata.…”

Tradition to Pathogenesis: A Novel Hypothesis for Elucidating the Pathogenesis of Diseases Based on the Traditional Use of Medicinal Plants

“…A review of its uses in osteoporosis therapy has been published by Zhai et al ( Zhai et al, 2013 ). It was shown to induce bone neoformation, to reduce osteocyte and osteoclast densities ( Burim et al, 2016 ) and to induce osteogenesis from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells ( Kim et al, 2017 ). These effects have mainly been attributed to its prenylated flavonol glycoside icariside II, which can enhance the osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells ( Luo et al, 2015 ), and icariin, which modulates the process of bone formation via the BMP-2/Smad4 signal transduction pathway ( Figure 10 ) ( Liang et al, 2012 ).…”