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| Research progress on icariin in regulating chondrocyte autophagy for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis based on the “tonifying kidney and activating blood”theory |
| Hits 83 Download times 33 Received:April 28, 2026 |
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| DOI
10.11656/j.issn.1672-1519.2026.07.15 |
| Key Words
tonifying kidney and promoting blood circulation;icariin;chondrocyte;autophagy;knee osteoarthritis;molecular mechanism;review |
| Author Name | Affiliation | E-mail | | ZHONG Jiwei | First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300381, China
National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300381, China
Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China | | | WANG Jida | First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300381, China
National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300381, China | | | CAO Dongdong | First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300381, China
National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300381, China | | | LIU Qi | First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300381, China
National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300381, China | | | CHEN Ruisi | First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300381, China
National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300381, China | | | DU Chao | First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300381, China
National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300381, China | | | LIU Aifeng | First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300381, China
National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300381, China | Draifeng163.com |
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| Abstract
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| Knee osteoarthritis（KOA）is a chronic degenerative disease，with chondrocyte apoptosis and autophagy dysfunction being the key pathological features. The traditional Chinese medicine theory of“kidney deficiency and blood stasis”offers a unique perspective on the pathogenesis. Icariin（ICA），the core component of the traditional kidney-tonifying herb Epimedium，intervenes in KOA through multiple targets and pathways. ICA not only regulates autophagy by activating the AMPK/mTOR signaling axes and SIRT1/AMPK signaling axes but also enhances autophagic flux by promoting TFEB nuclear translocation，improving the joint microenvironment，inhibiting ferroptosis，oxidative damage，and inflammatory responses，and delaying cartilage degeneration. Its “kidney tonification”and“blood activation”effects are in line with traditional Chinese medicine theory，and have been validated by in vitro and in vivo experiments in repairing knee joint cartilage. This review summarizes the mechanisms by which icariin（ICA） regulates chondrocyte autophagy through multiple targets and pathways at the molecular level for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis （KOA），analyzes its therapeutic potential，and aims to provide a theoretical basis for future clinical research on ICA in KOA. |
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