Therapeutic Osteoinductive Potential of Saposhnikovia divaricata Schischkin in a Mouse Drill-Hole Bone Defect Model

Bone fracture healing requires coordinated osteoclast-mediated resorption and osteoblast-driven formation. Saposhnikovia divaricata Schischkin (SDS) is a traditional East Asian medicine with anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities, but its role in bone regeneration remains unclear. This study evaluated the osteogenic potential of SDS using integrated in vitro, in vivo, and in silico approaches. Mouse-derived osteoblasts were treated with SDS, and cell viability, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and mineralization were assessed by CCK-8, ALP assay, and Alizarin Red O staining. A femoral drill-hole injury model was established in C57BL/6 mice, followed by oral administration of SDS (100, 200, or 400 mg/kg). Bone healing was evaluated by micro-computed tomography and histological analyses. SDS enhanced osteoblast viability, ALP activity, mineral deposition, and osteogenic marker expression in vitro. In vivo, SDS increased bone volume fraction and bone mineral density at 1 week after injury, accompanied by reduced TRAP-positive osteoclasts and increased osteocalcin staining. Molecular docking predicted favorable interactions between major chromone-derived constituents of SDS and the bone-related proteins RUNX2 and RANK. Collectively, these findings suggest that SDS may promote cellular processes associated with early bone repair and warrant further investigation into its mechanisms and long-term therapeutic potential.