Role of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Bone Regeneration and Osteoporosis

Overview

Journal Front Bioeng Biotechnol

Date 2022 Jun 17

PMID 35711635

Authors

Zhicai Peng

RongHua Xu

Qinjian You

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

According to World Health Organization (WHO), osteoporosis is a systematic bone disability marked by reduced bone mass and microarchitectural degeneration of osseous cells, which leads to increased bones feebleness and fractures vulnerability. It is a polygenetic, physiological bone deformity that frequently leads to osteoporotic fractures and raises the risk of fractures in minimal trauma. Additionally, the molecular changes that cause osteoporosis are linked to decreased fracture repair and delayed bone regeneration. Bones have the ability to regenerate as part of the healing mechanism after an accident or trauma, including musculoskeletal growth and ongoing remodeling throughout adulthood. The principal treatment approaches for bone loss illnesses, such as osteoporosis, are hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and bisphosphonates. In this review, we searched literature regarding the Traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) in osteoporosis and bone regeneration. The literature results are summarized in this review for osteoporosis and bone regeneration. Traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) have grown in popularity as a result of its success in curing ailments while causing minimal adverse effects. Natural Chinese medicine has already been utilized to cure various types of orthopedic illnesses, notably osteoporosis, bone fractures and rheumatism with great success. TCM is a discipline of conventional remedy that encompasses herbal medication, massage (tui na), acupuncture, food, and exercise (qigong) therapy. It is based on more than 2,500 years of Chinese healthcare profession. This article serves as a comprehensive review summarizing the osteoporosis, bone regeneration and the traditional Chinese medicines used since ancient times for the management of osteoporosis and bone regeneration.

Citing Articles

Biofunctional supramolecular injectable hydrogel with spongy-like metal-organic coordination for effective repair of critical-sized calvarial defects.

Chen Y, Qiu Z, Hu X, Wang T, Li G, Tang Z Asian J Pharm Sci. 2025; 20(1):100988.

PMID: 39926635 PMC: 11803222. DOI: 10.1016/j.ajps.2024.100988.

Effects of traditional Chinese medicine Zuo-Gui-Wan on gut microbiota in an osteoporotic mouse model.

Li J, HaomingYou , Hu Y, Li R, Ouyang T, Ran Q J Orthop Surg Res. 2025; 20(1):128.

PMID: 39891262 PMC: 11786422. DOI: 10.1186/s13018-025-05504-w.

Selection of the Anti-Osteoporosis Active Ingredients of Fructus Psoraleae-Eucommia-Drynariae Rhizoma Based on Solid-Phase Bio-Cell Chromatography and HPLC-MS Analysis.

Zhu L, Wang Y, Zhu Z, Yao X, Zhang R, Xia Y Food Sci Nutr. 2025; 13(1):e4604.

PMID: 39816481 PMC: 11732702. DOI: 10.1002/fsn3.4604.

Mechanism of modified danggui buxue decoction in glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis: A discussion based on network pharmacology and molecular docking.

Chen Y, Zhou Y, Chen J, Luo Y, Feng C, Fan X Heliyon. 2024; 10(17):e37249.

PMID: 39286188 PMC: 11402759. DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e37249.

Caffeic acid derivative MPMCA suppresses osteoclastogenesis and facilitates osteoclast apoptosis: implications for the treatment of bone loss disorders.

Thuong L, Hsu C, Chen H, Kuo Y, Tang C Aging (Albany NY). 2024; 16(16):11926-11938.

PMID: 39189924 PMC: 11386915. DOI: 10.18632/aging.206067.

References

Kim M, Song Y, Hwang J . Kirenol stimulates osteoblast differentiation through activation of the BMP and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways in MC3T3-E1 cells. Fitoterapia. 2014; 98:59-65. DOI: 10.1016/j.fitote.2014.07.013. View

Wazzani R, Pallu S, Bourzac C, Ahmaidi S, Portier H, Jaffre C . Physical Activity and Bone Vascularization: A Way to Explore in Bone Repair Context?. Life (Basel). 2021; 11(8). PMC: 8399402. DOI: 10.3390/life11080783. View

Wei M, Yang Z, Li P, Zhang Y, Sse W . Anti-osteoporosis activity of naringin in the retinoic acid-induced osteoporosis model. Am J Chin Med. 2007; 35(4):663-7. DOI: 10.1142/S0192415X07005156. View

Liu M, Li Y, Yang S . Curculigoside improves osteogenesis of human amniotic fluid-derived stem cells. Stem Cells Dev. 2013; 23(2):146-54. DOI: 10.1089/scd.2013.0261. View

Liang J, Wang F, Huang J, Xu Y, Chen G . The Efficacy and Safety of Traditional Chinese Medicine Tonifying-Shen (Kidney) Principle for Primary Osteoporosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2020; 2020:5687421. PMC: 7559232. DOI: 10.1155/2020/5687421. View

Aronson J . Limb-lengthening, skeletal reconstruction, and bone transport with the Ilizarov method. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1997; 79(8):1243-58. DOI: 10.2106/00004623-199708000-00019. View

Lungu A, Lazar M, Tonea A, Rotaru H, Roman R, Badea M . Observational study of the bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of jaws. Clujul Med. 2018; 91(2):209-215. PMC: 5958987. DOI: 10.15386/cjmed-838. View

Kawamata A, Iihara M, Okamoto T, Obara T . Bone mineral density before and after surgical cure of Cushing's syndrome due to adrenocortical adenoma: prospective study. World J Surg. 2008; 32(5):890-6. DOI: 10.1007/s00268-007-9394-7. View

Nian H, Qin L, Zhang Q, Zheng H, Yu Y, Huang B . Antiosteoporotic activity of Er-Xian Decoction, a traditional Chinese herbal formula, in ovariectomized rats. J Ethnopharmacol. 2006; 108(1):96-102. DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2006.04.020. View

10.

Reid I . Anti-resorptive therapies for osteoporosis. Semin Cell Dev Biol. 2008; 19(5):473-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2008.08.002. View

11.

Cosman F, de Beur S, LeBoff M, Lewiecki E, Tanner B, Randall S . Clinician's Guide to Prevention and Treatment of Osteoporosis. Osteoporos Int. 2014; 25(10):2359-81. PMC: 4176573. DOI: 10.1007/s00198-014-2794-2. View

12.

Cui X, Shang S, Lv X, Zhao J, Qi Y, Liu Z . Perspectives of small molecule inhibitors of activin receptor‑like kinase in anti‑tumor treatment and stem cell differentiation (Review). Mol Med Rep. 2019; 19(6):5053-5062. PMC: 6522871. DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2019.10209. View

13.

Lee M, Ha N, Yang H, Sung S, Kim Y . Stimulatory constituents of Eclipta prostrata on mouse osteoblast differentiation. Phytother Res. 2008; 23(1):129-31. DOI: 10.1002/ptr.2560. View

14.

Wang T, Liu Q, Tjhioe W, Zhao J, Lu A, Zhang G . Therapeutic Potential and Outlook of Alternative Medicine for Osteoporosis. Curr Drug Targets. 2017; 18(9):1051-1068. DOI: 10.2174/1389450118666170321105425. View

15.

Sun J, Theriault B, Anderson G . The effect of Gu-Sui-Bu (Drynaria fortunei) on bone cell activity. Am J Chin Med. 2005; 32(5):737-53. DOI: 10.1142/S0192415X0400234X. View

16.

Dimitriou R, Jones E, McGonagle D, Giannoudis P . Bone regeneration: current concepts and future directions. BMC Med. 2011; 9:66. PMC: 3123714. DOI: 10.1186/1741-7015-9-66. View

17.

Jeremiah M, Unwin B, Greenawald M, Casiano V . Diagnosis and Management of Osteoporosis. Am Fam Physician. 2015; 92(4):261-8. View

18.

Sheng H, Rui X, Sheng C, Li W, Cheng X, Jhummon N . A novel semisynthetic molecule icaritin stimulates osteogenic differentiation and inhibits adipogenesis of mesenchymal stem cells. Int J Med Sci. 2013; 10(6):782-9. PMC: 3638303. DOI: 10.7150/ijms.6084. View

19.

Suvarna V, Sarkar M, Chaubey P, Khan T, Sherje A, Patel K . Bone Health and Natural Products- An Insight. Front Pharmacol. 2018; 9:981. PMC: 6157411. DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2018.00981. View

20.

Schnatz P, Marakovits K, DuBois M, OSullivan D . Osteoporosis screening and treatment guidelines: are they being followed?. Menopause. 2011; 18(10):1072-8. DOI: 10.1097/gme.0b013e318215101a. View