Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Studies have demonstrated that Chinese herb epimedium can improve steroid-induced necrosis of femoral head, but the specific mechanism remains unclear. 
OBJECTIVE: To explore the primary results of epimedium extract on the treatment of steroid-induced avascular necrosis of femoral head.
METHODS: Male SD rats were prepared for rat models of steroid-induced avascular necrosis of femoral head and intervened by epimedium extract (0.4, 0.2 g/mL) or saline, at the same time, the rats without model preparation served as blank controls. The changes of blood glycerin, total cholesterol, and bone mineral density were observed at 8 weeks after operation. The spatial bone dimple ratio was calculated, and the differences were compared among groups.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Compared with the blank control group, the femoral head was loosened, the blood lipids were elevated, trabecular bone was thinning, sparse, the rate of empty lacunae was higher, and the medulla cavity fatty cells increased in the model group. But these lesions had varying degrees of reduction in the high and low-dose groups, and the pathological change of high-dose group was the lowest. Epimedium extract not only can improve blood flow changes of femoral head necrosis, improve metabolic disorder, promote the accumulation of fat metabolism, but also can promote the in vitro proliferation and differentiation into mature bone cells, inhibit osteoclast activity, promote femoral head bone regeneration and prevent steroid-induced necrosis of femoral head. The study provides a preliminary theoretical basis for the treatment of steroid-induced necrosis of femoral head using epimedium extract.