Effective Components of Epimedii Folium in Regulating Related Signaling Pathways for Treatment of Steroid-induced Avascular Necrosis of Femoral Head： A Review
10.13422/j.cnki.syfjx.20251862
- VernacularTitle:淫羊藿有效成分调控相关信号通路治疗激素性股骨头坏死的研究进展
- Author:
Jingxuan CHANG
1
;
Jinyao WU
1
;
Meiying JIN
2
;
Fanqi MENG
1
;
Wenhai ZHAO
3
;
Zhenhai CUI
2
Author Information
1. Changchun University of Chinese Medicine，Changchun 130117，China
2. The Third Clinical Hospital Affiliated to Changchun University of Chinese Medicine，Changchun 130117，China
3. Affiliated Hospital of Changchun University of Chinese Medicine，Changchun 130021，China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Epimedii Folium;
active ingredients;
steroid-induced avascular necrosis of femoral head;
pathological mechanism;
signaling pathway;
bone metabolism
- From:
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae
2026;32(4):277-288
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Steroid-induced avascular necrosis of femoral head（SANFH） is a bone and joint disease caused by prolonged and excessive steroid use. Its typical pathological features involve progressive circulatory disorders in the blood supply system of femoral head， leading to osteocyte apoptosis and bone tissue necrosis. As the disease progresses， it ultimately results in structural collapse and necrotic lesions of the femoral head， severely affecting patients' limb function and quality of life. Glucocorticoids mediate pathological damage through dual mechanisms， on the one hand， they disrupt the dynamic equilibrium between bone formation and resorption by suppressing osteoblast differentiation activity and activating osteoclastogenesis， on the other hand， they induce lipid metabolism disorders， inhibit angiogenesis， and impair endothelial cell function， thereby triggering microcirculatory disorders. Epimedii Folium and its active components exhibit multidimensional regulatory effects in SANFH prevention and treatment. Literature review reveals that it is rich in multiple active ingredients， primarily including total flavonoids of Epimedii Folium， icaritin， icariin， kaempferol， icariside Ⅱ， etc. These compounds exert multiple pharmacological effects（regulating bone metabolic homeostasis， modulating angiogenesis， correcting lipid metabolism disorders， and controlling cellular autophagy processes） through multiple signaling pathways， including Wnt/β-catenin， transforming growth factor（TGF）-β/bone morphogenetic protein（BMP）/Smad， mitogen-activated protein kinase（MAPK）， phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B（PI3K/Akt）， osteoprotegerin/receptor activator of nuclear transcription factor-κB ligand/receptor activator of nuclear transcription factor-κB（OPG/RANKL/RANK）， etc. Based on existing research findings， this paper systematically elucidates the intervention mechanisms of active components in Epimedii Folium on key pathological processes of SANFH through the above pathways. It also deeply analyzes their regulatory roles in key nodes of different signaling pathways， aiming to provide valuable references for future clinical treatment and experimental research.
