The traditional Chinese formula Taohong Siwu Tang has a therapeutic effect on glucocorticoid-induced osteonecrosis, in an animal model. - GreenMedInfo Summary

OBJECTIVE: To probe into the mechanism of Chinese drugs for promoting blood circulation and eliminating blood stasis in the prevention and treatment of glucocorticoid-induced ischemic necrosis of femoral head. METHODS: Thirty New Zealand adult white rabbits were randomly divided into a normal control group (n=5) and a model group (n=25). Hydroxyprednisone acetate was intramuscularly administered to the rabbits in the model group in a dosage of 7.5 mg/kg, twice per week for 6 weeks, to induce ischemic necrosis of femoral head and normal saline of the equal volume was intramuscularly administered to the rabbits in the normal control group, twice per week for 6 weeks. Then, the 5 rabbits from the normal control group and 5 rabbits selected randomly from the model group were sacrificed and the changes in histopathology and the expression of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) were observed. The other 20 rabbits in the model group were randomly divided into the treatment group 1 and the treatment group 2, and the control group 1 and the control group 2, 5 rabbits in every group. Taohong Siwu Tang ([Chinese characters: see text] Decoction of Four Drugs with Addition of Peach Kernel and Safflower) [Ingredients: walnut, Safflower flower, Ligusticum wallichii rhizome, Chinese Peony root, Dong Quai root, Rehmannia root]  was orally administered to the rabbits in the treatment group 1 and the treatment group 2 in a dosage of 7 ml/kg, once daily and normal saline of the equal volume was orally administered to the rabbits in the control group1 and the control group, 2 once daily. After 10 weeks the rabbits in the treatment group 1 and the control group1 were sacrificed and after 13 weeks the rabbits in the treatment group 2 and the control group 2 were sacrificed, and the expression of VEGF was detected in these rabbits. RESULTS: The expression of VEGF was significantly enhanced in rabbits of the model group as compared with the normal control group (P < 0.01), and gradually reduced with the lapse of time. The expression of VEGF in the control groups was significantly reduced as compared with the treatment groups (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Chinese drugs for promoting blood circulation and eliminating blood stasis can improve the microcirculation of femoral head in rabbits with glucocorticoid-induced ischemic necrosis of femoral head by promoting the expression of VEGF.