[Icaritin prevents vascular calcification in mice]

To explore the effect of icaritin on preventing the vascular calcification in mouse induced by vitamin D2.
 Methods: Fifty male C57BL mice were randomly assigned to a control group (n=10) and a model group (n=40). Mice in model group were treated with gradient-concentration of icaritin for 8 weeks. Then, they were consecutively treated with vitamin D2 for 4 days. Meanwhile, mice in negative control group were treated with the same dosage of PBS. At the end of the treatment, aortae were collected to examine the concentration of Ca, the area of calcification and the expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and Runx2.
 Results: Compared with the negative control group, the weight of mice and the concentration of Ca in the positive control (vitamin D2+0 mg/kg icaritin) group declined significantly (P<0.05) after injection of vitamin D2. Compared with the positive control group, the Ca concentration, the area of calcification, and the expression of Runx2 were significantly declined at the middle dosage of icaritin (vitamin D2+0.2 mg/kg icaritin) group (P<0.05).
 Conclusion: Icaritin could effectively prevent the vascular calcification in mice.