Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2026, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (29): 7639-7647.doi: 10.12307/2026.276

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Signaling pathways related to active ingredients of ginseng in the treatment of musculoskeletal degenerative diseases

Xia Tiange1, 2, Zhou Yi1, 2, Li Shaoshuo2, Wang Jianwei2, Shao Yang2    

  1. 1Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu Province, China; 2Department of Orthopedics, Wuxi TCM Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Wuxi 214071, Jiangsu Province, China
  • Received:2025-08-09 Revised:2025-12-08 Online:2026-10-18 Published:2026-03-06
  • Contact: Wang Jianwei, MD, Professor, Doctoral supervisor, Department of Orthopedics, Wuxi TCM Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Wuxi 214071, Jiangsu Province, China Co-corresponding author: Shao Yang, MD, Master’s supervisor, Department of Orthopedics, Wuxi TCM Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Wuxi 214071, Jiangsu Province, China
  • About author:Xia Tiange, MS candidate, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu Province, China; Department of Orthopedics, Wuxi TCM Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Wuxi 214071, Jiangsu Province, China
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China (General Program), No. 82274546 (to WJW); National Natural Science Foundation of China (General Program), No. 82405520 (to LSS); Wuxi “Double Hundred” Top-notch Young and Middle-aged Medical and Health Talents Project, No. HB2023072 (to SY); Wuxi Health Commission Scientific Research Project, No. Q202232 (to LSS); Wuxi "Double Hundred" Top-notch Young and Middle-aged Medical and Health Talents Project, No. HB2023074 (to LSS); Jiangsu Province Traditional Chinese Medicine Science and Technology Development Plan (Young Talent Project), No. QN202322 (to LSS); Jiangsu Province Graduate Research and Practice Innovation Program Project, No. SJCX25_1080 (to ZY) 

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Current therapies for musculoskeletal degenerative diseases merely alleviate symptoms with significant adverse effects. As a traditional Chinese medicine, active ingredients of ginseng exhibit protective effects on bone and muscle through multi-target regulation of signaling pathways, and breakthroughs have been made in mechanism research in recent years. 
OBJECTIVE: To provide a systematical review of the latest molecular mechanisms of active ingredients of ginseng (ginsenosides, polysaccharides, and peptides) in preventing and treating musculoskeletal degenerative diseases via key signaling pathways, providing a basis for targeted drug development. 
METHODS: A systematic search was performed in multiple databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, CNKI, WanFang, and VIP databases, for publications from database inception until April 2025. The search terms were "musculoskeletal degenerative diseases, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, intervertebral disc degeneration, sarcopenia, ginsenosides, ginseng polysaccharides, ginseng peptides, signaling pathways" in both English and Chinese. Ultimately, 75 articles meeting the inclusion criteria were selected for review. 
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Ginsenosides (such as Rg3, Rh4, and Rc) inhibit osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption by targeting the nuclear transport protein α2-nuclear factor κB axis; it delays sarcopenia via silent information regulator 1-mediated mitochondrial biogenesis and attenuates disc degeneration via Yes-associated protein 1/transcriptional coactivator and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways. (2) Processing-dependent immunomodulation of polysaccharides affects immunomodulatory activity, inhibiting inflammation via mitogen activated protein kinase/nuclear factor kappa B pathway. (3) Peptides improve mitochondrial function by activating the NAD+/silence information regulatory factor 1/peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ coactivator 1α axis. (4) It is concluded that ginseng is proposed to regulate bone metabolism balance, suppress cartilage degradation, and attenuate muscle aging via synergistic multi-component, multi-target actions. However, challenges such as low bioavailability and a lack of large-scale clinical trials remain to be addressed.

Key words: ginsenosides, mitochondrial biogenesis, osteoclast differentiation, immunomodulation, extracellular matrix degradation, targeted delivery, age-related disorders, synergistic regulation, tissue homeostasis

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