title: Osteoblasts Proliferation and Differentiation Stimulating Activities of the Main Components ofEpimedii folium.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Osteoporosis is a disease of bones that leads to an increased risk of fracture.Epimedii Foliumis commonly used for treating bone fractures and joint diseases for thousands of years in China.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was aimed to screen active components, which might have the potency to stimulate osteoblasts proliferation and differentiation inEpimedii Folium. An HPLC method was established to analyze the main components inEpimedii Folium. The MTT and ALP methods were utilized for the assay of osteoblasts proliferation and differentiation activity. Bavachin, a flavonoid compound was treated as the positive control.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Totally eight compounds have been identified by comparing their retention time with correspondent standard substances. Icariside I and icariside II significantly stimulated cell proliferation and osteoblasts differentiation. All these compounds were found with a characterized flavonoid structure in each of their molecule backbones.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results lead to a hypothesis that flavonoid monoglycoside structure might be crucial to exhibit the activity. The structure-effect relationship of these compounds with flavonoid monoglycoside structure in mouse primary calvarial osteoblasts needs to be explored in further research.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Eight compounds were identified by comparing their retention time with correspondent standard substances.Icariside I and icariside II significantly stimulated cell proliferation and osteoblasts differentiation.Flavonoid monoglycoside structure might be crucial to exhibit the osteoblasts proliferation and differentiation activity. Effects of the main components ofEpimedii Foliumon osteoblasts proliferation after treating 48 h.Abbreviations used:HPLC: High performance liquid chromatography, MTT: Methylthiazolyldiphenyl - tetrazolium bromide, ALP: Alkaline phosphatase.
authors.affiliation: The First Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China; Xuzhou Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Mingming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: The First Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China; Xuzhou Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Haiyan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: The First Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Xuzhou Central Hospital, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: The First Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hua
authors.affiliation: The First Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Guicheng
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Huang
keywords: Epimedii Folium; flavonoid monoglycoside; osteoblasts; proliferation