Rhizoma drynariae is a classic medicine for tonifying kidney and strengthening bone. Pharmacological studies show that its main active components are flavonoids and dihydroflavonoid naringin, which play an active role in anti-osteoporosis and repairing bone defects. Cellular and molecular biological studies suggest that drynaria regulates osteoblasts, osteoclasts, and mesenchymal stem cells through multiple pathways and multiple factors, such as Wnt/β-catenin, MAPK, OPG/RANKL/RANK, Notch, BMP-Smads, PI3K/Akt, and cytokines such as TNF-α, interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and estrogen and its receptor, Cathepsin K (CTSK). This paper focuses on the research progress of signal pathways and cytokines of rhizoma drynariae and its extracts in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis, in order to provide reference for the pharmacological and pharmacological research and clinical application of drynaria. |