Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2025, Vol. 29 ›› Issue (11): 2368-2376.doi: 10.12307/2025.365

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Role and mechanism of alkaloid components of traditional Chinese medicine against knee osteoarthritis

Shen Xuyu1, Luo Chengnuo1, Zhang Xiaoyun2, Jiang Zhouying1, Chai Yuan2   

  1. 1Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning 530011, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China; 2Ruikang Hospital, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning 530011, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
  • Received:2024-04-15 Accepted:2024-05-29 Online:2025-04-18 Published:2024-08-12
  • Contact: Chai Yuan, Master, Physician, Ruikang Hospital, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning 530011, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
  • About author:Shen Xuyu, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning 530011, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
  • Supported by:
    Young and Middle-aged Teachers Basic Scientific Research Ability Enhancement Project in Guangxi Universities, No. 2024KY0300 (to CY); Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine Youth Science Fund Project, No. 2023QN010 (to CY) 

Abstract: BACKGROUND: At present, modern medical treatment has certain limitations on the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. Traditional Chinese medicine alkaloids can effectively prevent and treat knee osteoarthritis through various mechanisms.
OBJECTIVE: To review the mechanism of alkaloids in traditional Chinese medicine in the prevention and treatment of knee osteoarthritis, providing a scientific basis for the clinical development of drugs for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis.
METHODS: CNKI, WanFang, PubMed, Web of Science and Google Scholar were retrieved for relevant literature published from database inception to May 2024. The key words were “knee osteoarthritis”“osteoarthritis”“osteoclast”“chondrocyte”“alkaloids”in Chinese and English. Duplicates and obsolete non-referenced literature were excluded, and a total of 68 eligible papers were included for further review. 
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Although traditional Chinese medicine has a long history of treating knee osteoarthritis, only a small number of natural compounds are in the preclinical stage of research against knee osteoarthritis. Alkaloids have a greater potential for the prevention and treatment of knee osteoarthritis, among which, sophocarpidine, oxymatrine, sinomenine, and betaine have been shown to be effective in the prevention and treatment of knee osteoarthritis by modulating multiple signaling pathways. Alkaloids can delay the progression of knee osteoarthritis by inhibiting inflammatory response, exerting antioxidant response, inhibiting chondrocyte apoptosis, promoting chondrocyte proliferation, and inhibiting osteoclast formation and differentiation.

中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点:组织构建;骨细胞;软骨细胞;细胞培养;成纤维细胞;血管内皮细胞;骨质疏松;组织工程

Key words: knee osteoarthritis, traditional Chinese medicine, alkaloids, signaling pathway, osteoclast, chondrocyte, autophagy

CLC Number: