Anti-osteoporosis effect of Epimedium via an estrogen-like mechanism based on a system-level approach

摘要

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Epimedium is a popular traditional herbal medicine worldwide that has long been used to relieve osteoporosis. The estrogenic properties of the herb are conferred by several phytoestrogens, such as flavonoids, lignans, and steroids. However, the poor understanding on the estrogen-like mechanism of Epimedium at the molecular and system levels limits the applications of this herb in osteoporosis treatment.