Flavonoids of Herba Epimedii Enhances Bone Repair in a Rabbit Model of Chronic Osteomyelitis During Post-infection Treatment and Stimulates Osteoblast Proliferation in Vitro.

Phytother Res. 2017 Feb;31(2):330-339. doi: 10.1002/ptr.5755. Epub 2016 Nov 29.

Shou D¹, Zhang Y², Shen L³, Zheng R⁴, Huang X², Mao Z², Yu Z², Wang N², Zhu Y¹.

Author information

1

Department of Chemistry, Xixi Campus, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310028, Zhejiang, China.

2

Department of Medicine, Zhejiang Academy of traditional Chinese Medicine, Hangzhou, 310007, Zhejiang, China.

3

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Tongde Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310012, Zhejiang, China.

4

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Lishui Central Hospital, Lishui, 323000, Zhejiang, China.

Abstract

Flavonoids are the active component of the Herba Epimedii (H. Epimedii), which is commonly used in Asia. This study is to investigate the effect of H. Epimedii on bone repair after anti-infection treatment in vivo. The bioactive-composition group of H. Epimedii (BCGE) contained four flavonoids with the total content of 43.34%. Rabbits with chronic osteomyelitis in response to injection with Staphylococcus aureus were treated with BCGE of 242.70 mg/kg/day intragastrically after vancomycin-calcium sulphate treatment. Micro-computerd tomography (CT), morphology, blood biochemistry and osteocalcin levels were assessed for effect evaluation. In addition, the rat calvarial osteoblasts infected with S. aureus were treated with vancomycin and BCGE. Cell viability, alkaline phosphatase activity, bone morphogenetic protein 2, Runt-related transcription factor 2, osteoprotegerin, receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand mRNA levels and protein expression were assessed. Our results indicated that BCGE promoted bone repair via increasing the bone mass, the volume of bone, promoting osteocalcin secretion after vancomycin-calcium sulfate treatment. BCGE enhanced the cell proliferation, by regulating bone morphogenetic protein 2, runt-related transcription factor 2, and osteoprotegerin/receptor activator of nuclear factor κ-B ligand mRNA and protein expression to maintain the balance between bone formation and bone resorption. Therefore, BCGE is a potential adjuvant herbal remedy for the post-infection treatment of chronic osteomyelitis. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

KEYWORDS:

Herba Epimedii; chronic osteomyelitis; flavonoids; post-infection treatment

PMID:

27896877

DOI:

10.1002/ptr.5755