Evidence mapPaperPMID 41888613Full record

ArticleScientific reports2026

Exploring the effects and mechanisms of Chinese yam in treating osteoporosis using network pharmacology analysis and biological validation.

Zhirong Huang, Liyi Zou, Baocheng Xie, Yayan Huang, Chunyu Pan, Xiaomei Ye, Youfa Qin, Yongmei Li

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Scientific reports, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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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

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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

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4 · The record

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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

8 authors.

Zhirong HuangDongguan Key Laboratory of Precision Drug Individualized Treatment Development, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, The Affiliated Dongguan Songshan Lake Central Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, 523326, China.
Liyi ZouGuangdong Key Laboratory for Research and Development of Natural Drugs, School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, 523808, China.
Baocheng XieDepartment of Pharmacy, The Tenth Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University (Dongguan People's Hospital), Dongguan, 523808, China.
Yayan HuangDongguan Key Laboratory of Precision Drug Individualized Treatment Development, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, The Affiliated Dongguan Songshan Lake Central Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, 523326, China.
Chunyu PanDongguan Key Laboratory of Precision Drug Individualized Treatment Development, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, The Affiliated Dongguan Songshan Lake Central Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, 523326, China.
Xiaomei YeDongguan Key Laboratory of Precision Drug Individualized Treatment Development, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, The Affiliated Dongguan Songshan Lake Central Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, 523326, China.
Youfa QinDongguan Key Laboratory of Precision Drug Individualized Treatment Development, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, The Affiliated Dongguan Songshan Lake Central Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, 523326, China. qinyoufaqwerty@163.com.
Yongmei LiDongguan Key Laboratory of Precision Drug Individualized Treatment Development, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, The Affiliated Dongguan Songshan Lake Central Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, 523326, China. lym206@gdmu.edu.cn.

Funding

Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation of Guangdong Province 2022A1515140138 and 2024A1515140131Special Project for Clinical and Basic Sci&Tech Innovation of Guangdong Medical University GDMULCJC2024123 and GDMULCJC2025144the Medical Science and Technology Research Foundation of Guangdong B2025653
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Chinese yam, a plant used in traditional medicine and food, shows promise for treating osteoporosis, but its exact mechanism of action remains unclear. In this study, employs network pharmacology, molecular dynamics simulation techniques, and in vitro and in vivo experiments were employed to investigate the potential mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of Chinese yam on osteoporosis. Our study indicates that Chinese yam primarily exerts its effects primarily through several of its active components including Phytocassane A, Batatasin II, Gibberellin, Dihydroquercetin, Garcinone D, and Diosgenin. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment revealed that the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and MAPK signaling pathway were enriched with multiple targets, including EGFR, SRC, IL-6, AKT1, and CTNNB1. The results from molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations revealed favourable binding stability of the target–compound complexes. Among them, Dihydroquercetin and Garcinone D demonstrated superior binding affinity for each target. In a zebrafish model demonstrated that Chinese yam extract effectively alleviated dexamethasone-induced inhibition of bone mineralization. We also found that Chinese yam extract increased alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, upregulated the protein expression of runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) and osteocalcin (OCN), and promoted PI3K phosphorylation in MC3T3-E1 cells treated with dexamethasone, and these effects could be reversed by a PI3K inhibitor (LY294002). This study revealed the active components and mechanisms underlying the efficacy of Chinese yam in treating osteoporosis, providing a theoretical foundation and research data for its clinical application in osteoporosis therapy.

Indexed as

DioscoreaNetwork PharmacologyOsteoporosisPlant ExtractsAnimalsCalcification, PhysiologicCell LineHumansMiceMolecular Docking SimulationMolecular Dynamics SimulationPhosphatidylinositol 3-KinasesProto-Oncogene Proteins c-aktSignal TransductionZebrafishPhosphatidylinositol 3-KinasesPlant ExtractsProto-Oncogene Proteins c-aktChinese yamMolecular dynamics simulationNetwork pharmacologyOsteoporosisPI3K/Akt signaling pathway

Identifiers

PMID41888613
PMCPMC13172009

What Socratic holds

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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.