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| Systematic mechanisms and pathways of Bushen Huoxue Chinese herbal medicine in regulating the“gut-bone axis”for prevention and treatment of osteoporosis |
| Hits 81 Download times 35 Received:May 12, 2026 |
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| DOI
10.11656/j.issn.1672-1519.2026.07.16 |
| Key Words
osteoporosis;gut-bone axis;Bushen Huoxue;traditional Chinese medicine;gut microbiota |
| Author Name | Affiliation | E-mail | | DONG Jiahao | The First Clinical Medical College, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming 650500, China | | | CHEN Tao | Yunnan Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Kunming 650021, China | henpao@126.com | | YU Weijie | Yunnan Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Kunming 650021, China | | | PENG Zhongyu | Yunnan Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Kunming 650021, China | | | LONG Yuan | The First Clinical Medical College, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming 650500, China | | | XIA Yifeng | The First Clinical Medical College, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming 650500, China | |
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| Abstract
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| Osteoporosis（OP）is a systemic bone disease characterized by reduced bone mass and degradation of bone microstructure， for which early prevention and treatment hold significant clinical value. In recent years，the“gut-bone axis”theory has revealed the crucial role of gut microbiota in regulating bone metabolism through pathways such as short-chain fatty acids（SCFAs），immune modulation，and endocrine signaling，offering novel insights for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. Traditional Chinese medicine（TCM）posits that“the kidney governs the bones and generates marrow”with the pathogenesis of osteoporosis rooted in kidney deficiency and manifested by blood stasis. Clinically，Bushen Huoxue Chinese herbal medicines are commonly employed with established therapeutic efficacy. This article systematically reviews the mechanisms by which Bushen Huoxue herbal medicines treat osteoporosis through the regulation of the“gut-bone axis，”including repairing the intestinal barrier，modulating microbial community structure，promoting the generation of beneficial metabolites，and suppressing inflammatory responses and oxidative stress. Furthermore，they directly or indirectly regulate key bone metabolic signaling pathways such as Wnt/β-catenin，OPG/RANKL/RANK， and BMP/Smad，thereby synergistically promoting osteogenesis，inhibiting osteoclastogenesis，and restoring bone homeostasis. Studies indicate that representative herbs such as Eucommia ulmoides Oliv.，Epimedium brevicornu Maxim.，Drynaria fortunei（Kunze）J. Sm.， and Astragalus membranaceus（Fisch.）Bunge. exhibit characteristics of multi-component，multi-target，and holistic regulation. Future research should deepen clinical validation，formulation optimization，and multi-omics mechanistic studies to further advance the modernization and precision application of Bushen Huoxue herbal medicines in the treatment of osteoporosis. |
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