BACKGROUND: Long-term utilization of steroid hormone easily induces avascular necrosis of the femoral head (ANFH). Cornu Cervi Pantotrichum possesses bone growth factor and can promote wound healing and tissue repairing, which may has effect on treatment of ANFH. OBJECTIVE: To investigate therapeutic effect of antler powder on ANFH induced by corticosteroids in rats. METHODS: Totally 42 male wistar rats were randomly divided into the blank control, model and high-, moderate- and low-dose treatment groups. Exception those in the blank control group, all rats were intragluteally injected with dexamethasone at 30 mg/kg twice per week for 6 weeks to induce ANFH. Then the rats were treated with antler powder by oral gavage at 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg dosage, once per day for 60 days. Same volume of physiological saline was gavaged in the blank control and model groups. Serum lipid level and bone mineral density (BMD) of femur were measured, pathological change and expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were investigated. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Steroid hormone intervention resulted in obviously ANFH in rats. After treatment with antler powder, the degree of necrosis was significant reduced. Compared with the model group, BMD were increased, total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, and low density lipoprotein levels were decreased, and the VEGF expression increased in the treatment groups. The results suggest that antler powder has a positive curative effect on ANFH by promoting bone formation, fat metabolism and increasing VEGF expression.