The Role of Traditional Chinese Medicines in Osteogenesis and Angiogenesis

The article aims to review various Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCMs) with both osteogenic and angiogenic effects, alone and in combination, and to consider whether these TCMs promote osteogenesis via angiogenesis and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Each of the TCMs involving in osteogenesis was searched through PubMed and CBMdisc using its Latin name and English name, and keywords such as ‘osteogenesis’, ‘bone’, ‘osteoblast’, ‘angiogenesis’, ‘VEGF’ were used. A total of 241 articles were screened from PubMed and CBMdisc. The articles were only chosen if they discussed the relationship of the TCMs with bone formation and/or angiogenesis. Twenty‐seven articles were chosen, of which 16 were in English and 11 were in Chinese with English abstract. As a result, the TCMs (Danshen or Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge , Danggui or Angelica sinensis , Astragalus membranaceus Bunge or Huangqi, and Ge Gan or Puerarin radix ) that have a relationship with both osteogenesis and angiogenesis were screened out. It is found that the aforementioned TCMs enhance angiogenesis and osteogenesis. They show a positive effect on bone formation, and the possible mechanisms may be related to their ability to promote angiogenesis via an effect on substances such as VEGF. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.