The Protective Activity of Apigenin Against Bone and Cartilage Diseases.

Bone and cartilage diseases have become the leading causes of joint disability due to the destruction of bone and cartilage. No effective drugs are available to cure bone and cartilage diseases. Exploring natural compounds as therapeutic alternatives shows promise. Apigenin, a naturally occurring flavonoid, exhibits various pharmacological activities, such as anti-inflammation, antioxidant, and immune modulation. Apigenin acts as a phytoestrogen and mediates the balance of bone remodeling by inducing osteogenic differentiation, promoting osteoblast-associated bone formation, and inhibiting osteoclast-related bone resorption. In addition, apigenin exhibits protective effects against osteoporosis (OP), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis (OA), gouty arthritis (GA), and intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). Apigenin can be a promising agent in treating bone and cartilage. However, the application of apigenin is limited due to its low water solubility and bioavailability. More efforts are still needed.