Effects of Five Flavonoids Isolated From Epimedium pubescens on Osteoblasts in vitro

AIM:To study the effects of icariin, icariin Ⅰ, icariin Ⅱ, epimedin B and epimedin C isolated from Epimedium pubescens on cultured osteoblasts in vitro. METHOD:Osteoblasts were obtained from newborn rat calvaria by digestive enzymes. MTT and MTB were used to observe the proliferation, calcium of matrix and calcium of mineral nodes of the third passage osteoblasts cultured in vitro. RESULT: In 0.1～10 μmol/L concentrations, icariin, icariinⅠ, icariin Ⅱ and epimedin C significantly stimulated the proliferation. In 0.1～10 μmol/L concentrations, icariin, icariinⅠ, icariin Ⅱ and epimedin B significantly increased the contents of calcium of matrix. icariinⅠ, icariin Ⅱ and epimedin B in 0.1～10 μmol/L concentrations,icariin in 1 μmol/L concentration and epimedin C in 0.1～1 μmol/L concentrations significantly increased the concentration of calcium of mineral nodes. CONCLUSION: Icariin, icariin Ⅰ, icariin Ⅱ, epimedin B and epimedin C increase the content of calcium of matrix and the concentration of calcium of matrix and stimulate the proliferation of cultured osteoblasts in vitro.