Preclinical studies and clinical evaluation of compounds from the genus Epimedium for osteoporosis and bone health

Publication date: Available online 25 January 2016 Source:Pharmacology & Therapeutics Author(s): Inthrani Raja Indran, Ryan Lim Zhen Liang, Tan Ee Min, Eu-Leong Yong The morbidity and mortality associated with fractures due to osteoporosis or “porous bone” contributes significantly to global healthcare costs and will increase exponentially with ageing populations. In menopausal women, the onset of menopause and rapid estrogen withdrawal leads to osteoporotic fractures. Healthy bone requires the coordinated remodelling function of osteoclasts, osteoblasts, osteocytes in the basic bone multicellular unit; regulated by estrogen, RANKL/OPG, ROS, growth factors and other kinase signalling pathways. Anti-osteoporotic drugs in current use such as hormone replacement therapy, selective estrogen receptor modulators, and bisphosphonates are designed to target these pathways; but all have their limitations. Extracts of the dried aerial parts of the Traditional Chinese Medicinal plant Epimedium (Berberidaceae), has long been used for bone health. Some nine Epimedium prenylflavonoid compounds have been reported to target estrogen signalling and other bone morphogenesis pathways in mesenchymal stem cell, osteoblast and osteoclast cell lineages. Epimedium prenylflavonoids and enriched extracts can exert beneficial effects on bone health in estrogen-deficient and other osteoporosis animal models. The development of sensitive and rapid methods mass chromatography techn...
Source: Pharmacology and Therapeutics - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research