Evidence mapPaperPMID 40828205Full record

ArticlePhytotherapy research : PTR2025

Phillygenin Improves the Focal Adhesion Kinase/Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3β/β-Catenin Axis to Promote Mesenchymal Stem Cell Osteogenic Differentiation.

Yuchao Yang, Haidong Zhou, Yining Wang, Ming Yin, Fengying Gong, Shutong Wu, Zhiyin Luo, Zhenyu Bi, Jiahou Xu, Yongfu Chen and 3 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Phytotherapy research : PTR, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Yuchao YangDepartment of Orthopedics, Yue Bei People's Hospital, Shaoguan, 512026, China.
Haidong ZhouGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Biomechanics, National Key Discipline of Human Anatomy, Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
Yining WangAffiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, 533000, China.
Ming YinDepartment of Imaging Diagnostics, Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
Fengying GongDepartment of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
Shutong WuAffiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, 533000, China.
Zhiyin LuoHuiqiao Medical Center, Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
Zhenyu BiAffiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, 533000, China.
Jiahou XuGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Biomechanics, National Key Discipline of Human Anatomy, Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
Yongfu ChenGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Biomechanics, National Key Discipline of Human Anatomy, Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
Konghe HuDepartment of Orthopedics, Yue Bei People's Hospital, Shaoguan, 512026, China.
Jun OuyangAffiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, 533000, China.
Jiajun TangDepartment of Orthopedics, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510630, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0003-1131-8276

Funding

Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation of Guangdong Province 2021A1515110440Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation of Guangdong Province 2023A1515012338China Postdoctoral Science Foundation 2024M762753Construction Project for Renowned Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Inheritance Studios in Guangdong Province 2024 - Lv Ying's Renowned TCM Inheritance Studio Guangdong TCM Office Document [2023] No. 108National Key Research and Development Program of China 2017YFC1105000
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Forsythiae Fructus, a traditional herb known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, has demonstrated inconclusive effects on bone metabolism in prior studies. The aim of this study is to investigate whether phillygenin (PHI), an active component of Forsythiae Fructus, promotes osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) by modulating the FAK/GSK-3β/β-catenin signaling axis. Experimental procedure: In vivo, an ovariectomized (OVX) mouse model was employed to mimic postmenopausal bone loss. In vitro, osteoclastogenesis was evaluated using tartarate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) enzymatic assays, while osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs was assessed through alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and alizarin red S (ARS) staining. Cell proliferation and viability were examined using the CCK-8 assay. Osteogenic markers, including ALP, RUNX2, osteopontin (OPN), as well as signaling proteins, such as phosphorylated FAK at Y397 (pFAKY397), phosphorylated glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (pGSK-3β), and β-catenin, were analyzed by western blot and immunofluorescence analyses. Specific inhibitors of the FAK and β-catenin (Y15 and XAV-939) were employed for mechanistic validation. PHI treatment significantly decreased the number and size of osteoclasts in a dose-dependent way. In OVX mice, PHI preserved trabecular microarchitecture, increased bone mineral density, and inhibited osteoclast formation dose-dependently. Low doses of PHI significantly promoted osteogenic differentiation and mineralization of BMSCs without affecting cell proliferation and viability. Mechanistically, PHI upregulated the expression of pFAKY397, pGSK-3β, and β-catenin. Inhibition of the pathway, achieved through the use of Y15 and XAV-939, attenuated PHI-induced osteogenesis. These findings indicate that PHI enhances BMSCs osteogenesis via the FAK/GSK-3β/β-catenin axis, thereby restoring bone metabolic balance. The results highlight PHI's dual regulatory potential in the management of bone disorders, particularly, estrogen deficiency-related osteoporosis, and suggest its potential applications in the therapeutic intervention of bone diseases.

Indexed as

beta CateninCell DifferentiationGlycogen Synthase Kinase 3 betaMesenchymal Stem CellsOsteogenesisAnimalsCell ProliferationCells, CulturedFemaleFocal Adhesion Kinase 1Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine KinasesMiceMice, Inbred C57BLOvariectomySignal Transductionbeta CateninFocal Adhesion Kinase 1Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine KinasesGlycogen Synthase Kinase 3 betaPtk2 protein, mousebone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs)focal adhesion kinase (FAK)osteogenesisosteoporosisphillygenin (PHI)β‐Catenin

Identifiers

PMID40828205
PMCPMC12605709

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.