ABSTRACT
This study was aimed to observe the protective effect of astragalus on bones of vitamin D deficiency rat model. A total of 30 male SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, which were the control group, model group, and the astragalus group. The experimental period was 8 weeks. After the experiment, enzyme immunoassay was used for the detection of serum 25 hydroxy vitamin D3 [25 (OH)VD3], fibroblast growth factor-23 [FGF-23], Klotho, and HE staining of femur. The results showed that compared with the normal control group, the vitamin D deficiency rat model group had a decrease in both serum 25 (OH)VD3 and Klotho, and a increase in FGF-23, which meant the ex-istence of osteoporosis. Compared with the model group, the astragalus group had a decrease in both the serum 25 (OH)VD3 and FGF-23, and a increase in Klotho, which meant the osteoporosis of the astragalus group had been im-proved significantly. It was concluded that astragalus can regulate FGF-23 and Klotho in vitamin D deficiency rats in order to have a protective effect for bones.