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Biological Compatibility Profile on Biomaterials for Bone Regeneration
Published on: November 16, 2018
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Natural Products as Potential Bone Therapies
Man-Sau Wong1,2, Christina Chui-Wa Poon3, Li-Ping Zhou3
1Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China. bcmswong@polyu.edu.hk.
Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology
|December 4, 2019
Summary
Natural products offer promising bone health benefits for aging populations. Research reveals their protective effects through various mechanisms, including the gut-brain-bone axis, supporting their use in therapeutics and drug development.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Nutraceuticals
- Gerontology
Background:
- Global demand for natural products in chronic disease management is rising.
- Natural products present a potential alternative for bone health management in aging populations.
- Botanicals, dietary supplements, and herbal medicines are increasingly sought for therapeutic applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the bone protective effects of natural products.
- To explore the mechanisms of action of natural products on bone health.
- To identify novel therapeutic targets for bone health using natural product research.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on natural products and bone health.
- Analysis of various natural product classes (flavonoids, stilbenes, etc.).
- Investigation of systemic and local mechanisms, including hormonal, osteogenic, osteoclastogenic, and adipogenic pathways.
- Exploration of novel mechanisms involving metabolomics, microbiome, and the gut-brain-bone axis.
Main Results:
- Natural products, including Chinese herbal medicine, herbs, and isolated phytochemicals, demonstrate bone protective effects.
- Key bioactive compounds include flavonoids, stilbenes, triterpenoids, coumestans, lignans, and phenolic acids.
- Mechanisms involve systemic hormonal regulation and local effects on bone cell differentiation and fat formation.
- Emerging research highlights the role of the gut-brain-bone axis in mediating natural product actions.
Conclusions:
- Natural products show significant potential as therapeutics for bone health.
- These compounds can modulate key pathways involved in bone metabolism.
- Further research can identify new drug targets for bone disease treatment.
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