Table 3 Evidence on the skeletal effects of Ejiao formulations
From: Ejiao as a preventive agent for osteoporosis - a scoping review of current evidence
Researchers | Composition of prescription | Study Design | Findings |
|---|---|---|---|
Xiong et al. (1999) [52] | Ejiao, Astragalus membranaceus, cooked Rehmannia glutinosa, Ostrea gigas | Animals: 20-d-old male Wistar rats Disease model: bone loss induced by retinoic acid (70 mg/kg/day for 20 days) Treatment: Calcium Ejiao oral solution (CCA) at 0.79, 1.58 and 2.37 g/kg/day, p.o., 6 weeks Negative control: normal saline Positive control: Longmu Zhuanggu granules (5 g/kg, p.o.) | Serum calcium level: ↑ vs. negative control Serum phosphorus level: ↑ vs. negative control Serum ALP level: ↓ vs. negative control Femoral calcium and phosphorus content: ↑ vs. negative control X-ray imaging: ↓ signs of bone loss (thinner cortical bone, reduced trabecular bone density) in treatment groups vs. negative control |
Animals: 20-day-old male & female Wistar rats Disease model: vitamin D deficiency-induced rickets model Treatment: Oral calcium CCA at 0.79, 1.58 and 2.37 g/kg/day, p.o., 60 days Negative control: normal saline Positive control: Longmu Zhuanggu granules (5 g/kg, p.o.) Negative control: NA | Serum calcium level: ↑ vs. negative control Serum phosphorus level: NS Serum ALP level: ↓ vs. negative control Femoral calcium and phosphorus content: ↑ vs. negative control X-ray imaging: ↓ signs of osteomalacia vs. negative control | ||
Gu et al. (2019) [53] | Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata: Rehmannia glutinosa Yam: Dioscorea opposita Dodder: Cuscuta chinensis Cornel: Cornus officinalis Lycium: Lycium chinense Eucommia: Eucommia ulmoides Radix Angelicae Sinensis: Angelica sinensis Cinnamon: Cinnamomum cassia Processed Radix Aconiti Lateralis: Aconitum carmichaelii Placenta: Placenta hominis Ejiao: Asini Corii Colla Radix Codonopsis: Codonopsis pilosula Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae: Atractylodes macrocephala Semen Coicis: Coix lacryma-jobi Fructus Amomi: Amomum villosum Baked tortoise’s shell: Testudinis Carapax et Plastrum Antlers plastic: Cervi Cornu Pantotrichum | Animals: 4-month-old Female Wistar rats Disease model: OVX-induced osteoporosis Treatment: AOD 10 g/kg, p.o., 12 months Negative control: normal saline Positive control: Yougui Pill 10 g/kg, p.o. | BMD: ↑ vs. negative control Histology: ↑ trabecular bone area vs. negative control Serum PINP and β-CTX: ↓ vs. negative control Skeletal ALP, BMP2, Runx2, collagen I, and osteopontin mRNA expression: ↑ vs. negative control |
Jia et al. (2013) [55] | Ejiao Yin Yang Huo: Epimedium sagittatum Tu Si Zi: Cuscuta chinensis Bu Guo Zi: Psoralea corylifolia Huai Niu Xi: Achyranthes bidentata Oyster: Ostrea gigas Su Mu: Caesalpinia sappan | Animals: 8-month-old Sprague-Dawley rats Disease Model: OVX - osteoporosis Treatment: Ejiao Kidney-Tonifying Bone Nourishing Formula (10 g/kg daily, p.o., 3 months) Negative control: NA Positive control: Alendronate sodium (8.2 mg/kg, p.o., weekly) | Body weight: ↑ vs. negative control Uterus and kidney indices: ↑ vs. negative control BMD: ↑ vs. negative control |
Jia et al. (2013) [54] | Ejiao Yin Yang Huo: Epimedium sagittatum Tu Si Zi: Cuscuta chinensis Bu Guo Zi: Psoralea corylifolia Huai Niu Xi: Achyranthes bidentata Oyster: Ostrea gigas Su Mu: Caesalpinia sappan | Animals: 8-month-old Sprague-Dawley rats Disease Model: OVX - osteoporosis Treatment: Experimental Groups: Ejiao Kidney-Tonifying Bone Nourishing Formula (10 g/kg daily, p.o., 3 months) Negative control: NA Positive control: Alendronate sodium (8.2 mg/kg, p.o., weekly) | Body weight changes: ↑ vs. Control group Uterus and kidney indices: ↑ vs. control group Serum OCN and PICP levels: ↑ vs. Control group |
Pan et al. (2023) [58] | Ejiao Wolfberry: Lycium barbarum Spatholobus: Spatholobus suberectus Codonopsis: Codonopsis pilosula Deer’s antler gelatin Tuckahoe: Poria cocos Mulberry: Morus alba Cooked rehmannia: Rehmannia glutinosa Achyranthes: Achyranthes bidentata Red sage: Salvia miltiorrhiza Wulingxian: Lindera aggregate Tortoiseshell gum Atractylodes macrocephala Rheum palmatum Shenji Herba Epimedii Licorice: Glycyrrhiza uralensis | Patients: 120 patients with OVCF treated with PVP Treatment group: 35 men and 25 women Mean age: 66.27 ± 2.15 years old Treatment: Ejiao paste (10 g, p.o., 2 times/day) + Baduanjin exercise Positive control group: 33 men and 27 women Mean age: 66.18 ± 2.20 years old Control: Calcium carbonate (1.25 g) + Vitamin D3 (200 IU) + guidance (consume 1.20–1.40 g/kg of high-quality protein daily, engage in walking exercises for over 30 min, and get regular sun exposure Duration: 6 months Follow-Up: 3 years Negative control: NA | BMD: ↑ vs. positive control AVBH: ↑ vs. control Serum B-Cross I: N-MID Ost, PTH, ↓ vs. control Functional improvement: ↑ vs. control |
Jia et al. (2018) [59] | Ejiao, Ostrea gigas | Patients: 80 children with Vitamin D-deficiency-induced rickets Treatment group: n = 40 children (23 males and 17 females) Mean age: 15.3 ± 5.3 month Treatment: Ejiao-Mu Li Oral Solution (≤ 6 months: 10 mL daily, thrice a day; > 6 months: 10 mL/day, twice a day) combined with zinc-iron-calcium composite preparation (10 mL, 3 times a day) for 12 weeks Positive control: n = 40 children (21 males and 19 females) Mean age: 14.7 ± 5.3 month Treatment: Zinc-iron-calcium composite preparation (10 mL, 3 times a day) for 12 weeks *Both groups received intramuscular vitamin D 300,000 IU, followed by 4-week oral vitamin D drops for 8 weeks (< 1 year: 500 IU/day, ≥ 1 year: 700 IU/day) | Total effective rate: ↑ vs. positive control Bone metabolism indicators: ALP↑ vs. positive control Bone density (radius, ulna) and 25-(OH) D3 levels: ↑ vs. positive control |
Chen et al. (2014) [60] | Ejiao: Colla Corii Asini Jujube: Ziziphus jujuba Goji Berry: Lycium barbarum Astragalus: Astragalus membranaceus Curculigo: Curculigo orchioides Amomum: Amomum villosum | Participants: 73 patients with closed bone fractures Treatment group: n = 37 patients Mean age: 46.21 ± 6.24 years old Treatment: Ejiao and Astragalus, 10 mL, p.o., twice daily, alongside a self-made bone healing ointment applied 6–9 times daily for one week Positive control: n = 36 patients Mean age: 45.93 ± 5.71 years old Treatment: Calcium gluconate oral solution (600 mg/d) Negative control: NA | Total effective rate: ↑ vs. positive control Healing outcomes after 12 weeks: ↑ vs. positive control |