Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2026, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (33): 8618-8630.doi: 10.12307/2026.285

Previous Articles     Next Articles

Epimedium in the treatment of alcohol-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head: action mechanism through network pharmacology and molecular dynamics simulation

Lai Yu1, 2, Chen Yueping2, Zhang Xiaoyun2, Zhuo Yinghong2   

  1. 1Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning 530001, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China; 2Ruikang Hospital, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning 530001, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
  • Received:2025-08-21 Revised:2026-01-27 Online:2026-11-28 Published:2026-06-09
  • Contact: Chen Yueping, PhD, Chief physician, Doctoral supervisor, Ruikang Hospital, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning 530001, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
  • About author:Lai Yu, PhD, Physician, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning 530001, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China; Ruikang Hospital, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning 530001, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
  • Supported by:
    Clinical Key Specialty of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (Trauma Surgery) Construction Project, No. [2021]17 (to CYP); Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine Class A “Guangxi Traditional Chinese Medicine Inheritance and Innovation Team”, No. 2022A004 (to CYP); Graduate Education Innovation Program Project of Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, No. YCBXJ2023025 (to LY); Youth Fund Project of Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, No. 2020QN013 (to ZYH)

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Currently, the treatment, early intervention, and delaying the progression of alcoholic osteonecrosis of the femoral head are not satisfactory. Preliminary studies have found that the active components of Epimedium have the effects on maintaining bone homeostasis and promoting fracture healing.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the potential mechanism of Epimedium in the treatment of alcohol-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head by integrated approaches, including network pharmacology, molecular docking technology, molecular dynamics simulations, and in vitro cell experiments.
METHODS: After identifying the main constituents of Epimedium via ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-exactive Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry, potential active compounds were screened firstly based on the TCMSP database, and their corresponding targets were retrieved using the TCMSP and Uniprot databases. Subsequently, disease-related targets associated with alcohol-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head were extracted from multiple disease databases. An intersection analysis was conducted between drug targets with disease targets, and the results were imported into the STRING platform to construct a protein-protein interaction network. The network topology was analyzed using Cytoscape software to identify key targets. An “active ingredient–target” interaction network was then constructed to determine core active compounds. On this basis, Gene Ontology annotation and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analyses were performed on the key targets. Molecular docking was conducted between core compounds and key targets. The most stable compound-target complex, based on binding affinity, was further subjected to molecular dynamics simulations to validate its structural stability and interaction mechanisms. Finally, cell counting kit-8 and western blot assays were performed on MC3T3-E1 cells in the blank group, model group and drug group.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) A total of 88 active compounds were identified from Epimedium extract. Fifty overlapping targets were obtained by intersecting the compound-related and disease-related targets, from which five core compounds and six key targets were identified. Gene Ontology enrichment involved 1 321 terms, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis revealed 79 signaling pathways. (2) Molecular docking showed strong binding affinities between the core compounds and key targets, with icariin exhibiting the lowest binding energy to serine/threonine protein kinase 1. Subsequent molecular dynamics simulations demonstrated good structural stability between icariin and serine/threonine protein kinase 1. (3) In vitro experiments confirmed that alcohol exerted significant cytotoxic effects on MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts, impairing their osteogenic differentiation, while icariin effectively alleviated these detrimental effects, potentially through activation of the serine/threonine protein kinase signaling pathway. A systematic analysis of the chemical constituents of Epimedium suggests that it may exert therapeutic effects against alcohol-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head via multi-component synergy, multi-target regulation, and multi-pathway modulation. These mechanisms may involve immune regulation, anti-inflammatory activity, mitigation of oxidative stress, promotion of angiogenesis, and maintenance of bone metabolic homeostasis, ultimately contributing to the improvement of alcohol-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head pathological progression.

Key words: Epimedium, alcohol-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head, molecular dynamics simulation, mass spectrometry, molecular docking, network pharmacology

CLC Number: