{
  "abstract": "Epimedium is a traditional herb that has been investigated for its potential osteogenic and bone-regenerative effects, yet systematic analyses of its multi-component, multi-target mechanisms in bone metabolism and tissue engineering applications are limited. To address this knowledge gap, this narrative review systematically summarizes more than 20 bioactive constituents extracted from various parts of major medicinal Epimedium species. We elaborate on their pivotal roles in modulating osteogenic differentiation, suppressing osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption, regulating inflammatory responses, exerting antioxidant effects, promoting angiogenesis, demonstrating antitumor activity, exerting chondroprotective effects, and exhibiting antibacterial activity during bone defect repair. Furthermore, we highlight recent advancements and current trends in applying these bioactive constituents within the field of bone tissue engineering. Additionally, we compared the osteogenic and osteoprotective potentials of three metabolically related flavonoids (icariin, icaritin, and icariside II). Network pharmacology was utilized to elucidate their multi-target mechanisms in modulating bone metabolism, providing insights for future mechanistic studies. Despite the long-standing clinical use and extensive scientific investigation of Epimedium, this review identifies several challenges associated with its application in bone tissue engineering and offers constructive recommendations to overcome these limitations.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "College of Acumox and Tuina (College of Rehabilitation Medicine), Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230012, China",
    "The First Clinical Medical School, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230038, China",
    "School of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230012, China",
    "College of Medical Information Engineering, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230012, China"
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 11,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Tianyou Xu",
      "orcid": "0009-0003-7862-6513"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Rao Zhang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Jiaxing Hu"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Junnan Jiang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Longjie Qiao"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Sijie Deng"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Xinyang Li"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Wenjun Zhang",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-5990-6670"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Zhengxin Zhou"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Kui Xu",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-6931-3070"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Caiyun Mu",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-7292-7214"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/0apmvs862k5hh.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3390/ijms27219579",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "0apmvs862k5hh",
  "issns": [
    "1422-0067"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/21/9579",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "3004|Medicinal Plant Pharmacodynamics Research"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7223820449",
  "pdf_url": null,
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-26",
  "publisher": "MDPI AG",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/0apmvs862k5hh.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:18:57Z",
      "native_id": "10.3390/ijms27219579",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/21/9579"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:3004|Medicinal Plant Pharmacodynamics Research",
      "subfield": "pharmacology-toxicology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Epimedium: A Versatile Player in Bone Tissue Engineering",
  "title_text": "Epimedium: A Versatile Player in Bone Tissue Engineering",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:18:57Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/0apmvs862k5hh",
  "venue": "International Journal of Molecular Sciences",
  "versions": []
}