Pharmacological mechanism of natural products to treat osteoporosis: a focus on the autophagy

Osteoporosis (OP) is a serious public health issue, and fragility fractures resulting from OP are a major cause of death in the elderly. Osteoblast (OB)-mediated insufficient bone formation and osteoclast (OCs)mediated abnormalities in bone destruction can result in OP. Autophagy is the process by w...

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Main Authors: Chenglong Xin, Guangheng Zhang, Zheng Shen, Weibiao Han, Ruifeng Fan, Jiakuo Ren, Jianyi Zhang, Yanke Hao, Jian Xin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Pharmacology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1623990/full
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author Chenglong Xin
Guangheng Zhang
Zheng Shen
Weibiao Han
Ruifeng Fan
Jiakuo Ren
Jianyi Zhang
Yanke Hao
Jian Xin
author_facet Chenglong Xin
Guangheng Zhang
Zheng Shen
Weibiao Han
Ruifeng Fan
Jiakuo Ren
Jianyi Zhang
Yanke Hao
Jian Xin
author_sort Chenglong Xin
collection DOAJ
description Osteoporosis (OP) is a serious public health issue, and fragility fractures resulting from OP are a major cause of death in the elderly. Osteoblast (OB)-mediated insufficient bone formation and osteoclast (OCs)mediated abnormalities in bone destruction can result in OP. Autophagy is the process by which cells degrade and recycle their own proteins and organelles. The differentiation and activity of OBs, OCs, and other bone cells depend on autophagy activity. The regulation of autophagy has the potential to influence the metabolic processes of these cells, which may contribute to the treatment of OP. This paper provided a comprehensive review of the experimental and clinical evidence supporting the use of natural products as potential therapeutic agents for OP. We examined the diverse regulatory effects of natural products on bone cells, including bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, OBs, and OCs. Additionally, we explore the potential of these natural products to mediate autophagy, a process that may offer novel drug options and provide guidance for future clinical trials.
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id doaj-art-14d1a12ba36045338cb1f008a4cf1afc
institution DOAJ
issn 1663-9812
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Pharmacology
spelling doaj-art-14d1a12ba36045338cb1f008a4cf1afc2025-08-20T03:16:12ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pharmacology1663-98122025-08-011610.3389/fphar.2025.16239901623990Pharmacological mechanism of natural products to treat osteoporosis: a focus on the autophagyChenglong Xin0Guangheng Zhang1Zheng Shen2Weibiao Han3Ruifeng Fan4Jiakuo Ren5Jianyi Zhang6Yanke Hao7Jian Xin8The First Clinical Medical College, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, ChinaThe First Clinical Medical College, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, ChinaSchool of Acupuncture and Massage, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, ChinaThe First Clinical Medical College, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, ChinaThe First Clinical Medical College, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, ChinaThe First Clinical Medical College, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, ChinaThe First Clinical Medical College, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, ChinaAffiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, ChinaAffiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, ChinaOsteoporosis (OP) is a serious public health issue, and fragility fractures resulting from OP are a major cause of death in the elderly. Osteoblast (OB)-mediated insufficient bone formation and osteoclast (OCs)mediated abnormalities in bone destruction can result in OP. Autophagy is the process by which cells degrade and recycle their own proteins and organelles. The differentiation and activity of OBs, OCs, and other bone cells depend on autophagy activity. The regulation of autophagy has the potential to influence the metabolic processes of these cells, which may contribute to the treatment of OP. This paper provided a comprehensive review of the experimental and clinical evidence supporting the use of natural products as potential therapeutic agents for OP. We examined the diverse regulatory effects of natural products on bone cells, including bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, OBs, and OCs. Additionally, we explore the potential of these natural products to mediate autophagy, a process that may offer novel drug options and provide guidance for future clinical trials.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1623990/fullnatural productsosteoporosisautophagyosteoclastosteoblast
spellingShingle Chenglong Xin
Guangheng Zhang
Zheng Shen
Weibiao Han
Ruifeng Fan
Jiakuo Ren
Jianyi Zhang
Yanke Hao
Jian Xin
Pharmacological mechanism of natural products to treat osteoporosis: a focus on the autophagy
Frontiers in Pharmacology
natural products
osteoporosis
autophagy
osteoclast
osteoblast
title Pharmacological mechanism of natural products to treat osteoporosis: a focus on the autophagy
title_full Pharmacological mechanism of natural products to treat osteoporosis: a focus on the autophagy
title_fullStr Pharmacological mechanism of natural products to treat osteoporosis: a focus on the autophagy
title_full_unstemmed Pharmacological mechanism of natural products to treat osteoporosis: a focus on the autophagy
title_short Pharmacological mechanism of natural products to treat osteoporosis: a focus on the autophagy
title_sort pharmacological mechanism of natural products to treat osteoporosis a focus on the autophagy
topic natural products
osteoporosis
autophagy
osteoclast
osteoblast
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1623990/full
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