The role of autophagy in the treatment of osteoporosis by Chinese medicines (natural)

Abstract

Osteoporosis is one of the common orthopaedic diseases, characterised by increased bone fragility due to reduced bone mass and microstructural degeneration, posing a great threat to patients’ quality of life and safety. In recent years, Chinese medicine (natural) has had a unique advantage in the treatment of osteoporosis and has shown good efficacy. Autophagy is an inherent cellular survival mechanism for the removal and recycling of damaged proteins and organelles and plays an important role in maintaining the stability of the intracellular environment and organ function. Therefore, this article aims to provide a comprehensive review of these Chinese medicines (natural) for the treatment of osteoporosis through autophagy. They have been intensively studied and reported to have effects such as promoting osteogenesis and anti-bone resorption. The Chinese medicines include plants such as Cistanche deserticola, Epimedium, Curculigo orchioides Gaertn, Achyranthes bidentata Blume, Leonurus japonicus Houtt, Ginseng, Chuanxiong Rhizome, Eucommia ulmoides, Morindae Officinalis Radix, Curcuma longa, Polygoni Cuspidati Rhizoma et Radix, Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge, Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge and Pueraria Lobata, thus providing evidence for the use of alternative herbal therapies for the effective treatment of osteoporosis.