Development of epimedin A complex drugs for treating the osteoporosis

J Mater Sci Mater Med. 2021 Jan 27;32(1):17. doi: 10.1007/s10856-020-06472-9.

Abstract

Osteoporosis is the most common disease involving bone degeneration. As the age of the population increases, the prevalence of the disease is expected to rise. However, current treatment methods do not provide a desirable solution for the restoration of the function of degenerated bones in patients with osteoporosis. This led to emergence of controlled delivery systems to increase drug bioavailability and efficacy specifically at the bone regeneration. In this study, an epimedin A (EA) complex drug system was prepared by solution blending method. In vitro cell-based experiments showed that the EA complex drug could significantly promote the differentiation and proliferation of osteoblasts and increase the alkaline phosphatase activity, calcium nodule formation, and the expression of osteogenesis-related genes and proteins. In vivo experiments further demonstrated that this novel drugs remarkably enhanced bone regeneration. These results suggest that EA may be used for the treatment of osteoporosis.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bone Density / drug effects
  • Cell Differentiation / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Delayed-Action Preparations
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Drug Carriers* / chemical synthesis
  • Drug Carriers* / chemistry
  • Drug Carriers* / pharmacokinetics
  • Drug Carriers* / therapeutic use
  • Drug Liberation
  • Female
  • Flavonoids / administration & dosage*
  • Flavonoids / chemistry
  • Flavonoids / pharmacokinetics
  • Macromolecular Substances / chemical synthesis
  • Macromolecular Substances / chemistry
  • Macromolecular Substances / pharmacokinetics
  • Macromolecular Substances / therapeutic use
  • Mice
  • Osteoblasts / drug effects
  • Osteoblasts / physiology
  • Osteogenesis / drug effects
  • Osteoporosis / drug therapy*
  • Osteoporosis / metabolism
  • Osteoporosis / pathology
  • Ovariectomy
  • Polysaccharides, Bacterial / chemistry
  • Sulfhydryl Compounds / chemistry

Substances

  • Delayed-Action Preparations
  • Drug Carriers
  • Flavonoids
  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Polysaccharides, Bacterial
  • Sulfhydryl Compounds
  • epimedin A
  • gellan gum