Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42608562›Full record

ArticleNaunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology2026

Decoction-derived bioactive nanoparticles of Lycopodium japonicum Thunb. attenuate knee osteoarthritis by regulating MAPK/ERK signaling.

Xiaohui Chen, Gang Liang, Liangwei Wang, Zhilang Xie, Zhongpan Li, Yulin Xiang, Rongzhu Li, Fulan Zhao, Xiaojun Chen, Rui Huang

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Article in Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology, 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

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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.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Xiaohui Chen *Regional TCM Hospital Preparation Research and Transformation Center, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China.
Gang Liang *Regional TCM Hospital Preparation Research and Transformation Center, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China.
Liangwei Wang *Regional TCM Hospital Preparation Research and Transformation Center, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China.
Zhilang XieRegional TCM Hospital Preparation Research and Transformation Center, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China.
Zhongpan LiRegional TCM Hospital Preparation Research and Transformation Center, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China.
Yulin XiangRegional TCM Hospital Preparation Research and Transformation Center, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China.
Rongzhu LiSchool of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China.
Fulan ZhaoRegional TCM Hospital Preparation Research and Transformation Center, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China. lyfzzr@126.com.
Xiaojun ChenDepartment of Orthopedics, Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, Sichuan Province, China. chenxj20210630@swmu.edu.cn.
Rui HuangRegional TCM Hospital Preparation Research and Transformation Center, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China. huangrui6136@swmu.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0004-7629-1876

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

This study leverages modern nanotechnology and molecular biological approaches to elucidate the scientific rationale underlying the traditional aqueous decoction practice of Lycopodium japonicum Thunb. (LJT) for knee osteoarthritis (KOA), establishing that the spontaneously formed nanoparticles may contribute to the pharmacologically active material foundation, and demonstrating that they confer therapeutic benefits predominantly through modulation of the MAPK/ERK inflammatory pathway, thereby positioning LJT-NPs as a potentially biocompatible, plant-derived nanotherapeutic candidate. LJT constituents were profiled by ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-HR-MS) during aqueous decoction, and their self-assembly into supramolecular nanoparticles was observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). After optimization, LJT-derived nanoparticles (LJT-NPs) were prepared and biosafety was assessed in vivo. Systems pharmacology predicted the main pathway, and anti-osteoarthritic efficacy was validated in papain-induced KOA rat models and in vitro cellular assays. UPLC-HR-MS analysis indicated that lycopodium alkaloids were the primary components of LJT-NPs. In vivo profiling suggested that this endogenous nanosystem exhibits preliminary biosafety. Systems pharmacology revealed MAPK/ERK as the primary regulatory pathway, and experiments showed attenuated phosphorylation of RAF, MEK, ERK, and ELK1 in vivo and in vitro. Additionally, LJT-NPs ameliorated KOA at low doses via local joint injection. LJT-NPs showed therapeutic potential in KOA models, associated with attenuation of MAPK/ERK pathway hyperactivation. This positions LJT-NPs as a botanical-origin nanotherapeutic candidate with good safety and efficacy profiles.

Indexed as

Knee osteoarthritisLycopodium japonicum Thunb.MAPK/ERK signaling pathwayNetwork pharmacologySelf-assembled nanoparticles

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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 OpenQuestion graph.