Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2020, Vol. 24 ›› Issue (14): 2243-2249.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.2474

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Molecular mechanism of icariin effects on articular chondrocytes, subchondral bone and synovium in the treatment of osteoarthritis

Yu Shaoyong1, Liu Jianhang2, Zhang Xiaoyun3, Xu Zhiwei1, Xie Guixin4, Wu Haibo4, Zhang Zhaojian4   

  1. 1Chinese Medicine Clinic, 3Department of Traumatic Orthopedics and Hand Surgery, Ruikang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine; 2Beihai Hospital of Chinese Medicine (Beihai Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine); 4Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine
  • Received:2019-07-20 Revised:2019-07-27 Accepted:2019-09-19 Online:2020-05-18 Published:2020-03-16
  • Contact: Liu Jianhang, MD, Chief physician, Beihai Hospital of Chinese Medicine (Beihai Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine), Beihai 536000, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China Zhang Xiaoyun, Master, Attending physician, Department of Traumatic Orthopedics and Hand Surgery, Ruikang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning 530011, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
  • About author:Yu Shaoyong, Master candidate, Chinese Medicine Clinic, Ruikang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning 530011, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
  • Supported by:
    the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 81760796; Basic Ability Improvement Project for Young and Middle-aged Teachers in Guangxi Province, No. 2019KY0352; Key Scientific Research Project of Guangxi Provincial Health Department, No. 2012038; QiHuang Engineering Cultivation Project of Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, No. 2018004

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Icariin is the main effective component of Epimedium, which functions to tonify the kidney, and strengthen tendons and bones. In recent years, a large number of studies have found that icariin plays a significant role in the treatment of osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To review the research progress in the molecular mechanism of icariin in the treatment of osteoarthritis.

METHODS: The first author used “Icariin, Osteoarthritis, Cartilage, Subchondral bone, Synovial membrane, synovium, Inflammation" as search words in English and Chinese to search PubMed, CNKI, WanFang, and VIP databases. According to the inclusion criteria and exclusion criteria, 42 articles were included for final analysis.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Icariin can promote the cartilage differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and enhance the proliferation of cartilage cells and osteoblasts, to inhibit the degradation of cartilage extracellular matrix, reduce the activity of osteoclasts and alleviate synovial inflammation caused by inflammatory factors. It is an effective treatment for osteoporosis. However, the optimal effective dose and concentration safety of icariin still need a large number of experimental studies. Currently, most of the experiments are still in animal and tissue cell experiments. Numerous clinical studies are needed to continue to explore its specific mechanism in order to provide evidence-based medical evidence for icariin in the treatment of osteoarthritis.

Key words: icariin, osteoarthritis, articular cartilage, subchondral bone, synovium, inflammation, extracellular matrix

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