| Researches have found that the regulating effect of epimedium on bone metabolism exists in different osteoporotic rat models.The clinical studies also indicate an obvious efficacy of epimedium in the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis.Its possible mechanism may rely on reducing Ca2+level in osteoclasts, influencing the proliferation, differentiation, and mineralization of osteoblasts.It may also increase the expression of OPG mRNA and promote the expression of Osterix gene in osteoblasts, thus promoting bone formation.Epimedium can also promote the expression of BMP-2 mRNA, increase the expression of BMP-2, in order to stimulate the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts.Meanwhile, by inhibiting the expression of TNF-αmRNA and promoting the expression of TGF-β1 mRNA, epimedium promotes the production of TGF-β1 , thus preventing the generation of osteoclasts in bone marrow and reducing bone loss.Total epimedium flavonoids ( TFP) can promote bone formation by increasing the expression of OPN mRNA and type-I collagen.By selectively up-regulating the expression of ERαand ERβmRNA in the hypothalamus and the hippocampus, epimedium can down-regulate the expression of IL-6, thus reducing the bone resorption.TFP can regulate bone metabolism by inhibiting the expression of DKK1 protein, thus controlling the balance of osteogeic and adipogenic differentiation of BMSCs in OVX rats.Epimedium can promote the expression of Cbfal, BMP2, and BMP4 mRNA, thus promoting the differentiation of osteoblasts and inducing the osteogenic differentiation of rat BMSCs.TFP can remarkably improve the function of male genital system and reproductive endocrine, stimulate the secretion of gonad, and exert androgen-like function to accelerate the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts.This article elaborates the mechanism of epimedium flavonoids in anti-osteoporosis treatment from several aspects, proposing a deeper and systemic research and description in the future. |