Curculigoside is a Promising Osteoprotective Agent for Osteoporosis: Review

The prevention and treatment of osteoporosis (OP) is one of the major issues in coping with the aging population; however, there are limited treatments available for OP. In-depth study of OP pathogenesis and development of new therapeutic strategies has become an urgent medical need facing the aging society. Curculigoside is a natural product widely found in plants, which can modulate cellular differentiation and function in osteogenic cells and exert significant osteoprotective effects. In addition, curculigoside showed significant positive effects on the treatment of OP animal models. Specific mechanisms include inhibition of inflammatory responses, antagonism of oxidative stress, and modulation of various signaling. Therefore, we hypothesized that curculigoside could represent a novel therapeutic strategy for OP. This article reviews recent research advances in the treatment of OP with curculigoside, including the origin and basic characteristics of curculigoside, the mechanisms and therapeutic effects that may be involved in in vitro as well as in vivo studies. We also examine the pharmacokinetics of curculigoside and investigate modified uses that may augment its therapeutic efficacy. This article seeks to encourage additional investigation into curculigoside-based treatments for osteoporosis.