ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:Herba epimedi, a traditional Chinese medicine, has a long time in dealing with various orthopedic disorders. Icarinwithmany biological activites is one of the most important compositions of Herba epimedi. OBJECTIVE:Toinvestigate the effects of icarin on osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cels and the underlying mechanisms. METHODS:Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels were treated using icarin with or without osteogenic mediumin vitro. Osteogenic differentiation markers, including runt-related transcription factor 2, osteocalcin and osterix, were detected by real time-qPCR. Alizarin red staining was used to measure calcium nodes generated by osteoblasts induced frombonemarrow mesenchymal stem cels. The proximal tibia bone structure of rats fed with icarin (2 mgperday) for 5 weeks was detected and analyzed by MicroCT. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Icarin was able to promote the expression of genes related to osteogenic differentiation in the absence or presence of osteogenic induction. Icarin could obviously increase the quantity of calcium nodes whenmesenchymal stem celswere cultured in the osteogenic medium. The animal experiment showed that icarin improved formation of trabecular bone.