Unraveling Ginsenoside Rg1's osteoprotective pathways in zebrafish models of glucocorticoid induced osteoporosis via transcriptomics.

In this study, the effects of Ginsenoside Rg1 (Rg1), the primary bioactive constituent of Panax ginseng roots, on glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP) were examined using a zebrafish model, with a focus on elucidating its underlying mechanisms. Our findings demonstrated that Rg1 treatment inhibited osteoporosis induced by methylprednisolone (PN), as evidenced by increased mineralisation area and integrated optical density in the spine and skull of zebrafish larvae. Rg1 reduced the expression of bglap (an osteogenic marker gene) and increased the expression of traf (an osteoclast marker gene) compared with the PN group. Behavioural analysis revealed that Rg1 alleviated PN-induced hypoactivity, resulting in enhanced motion speed. Furthermore, transcriptome analysis identified 383 genes reversed by Rg1 treatment, with significant enrichment in skeletal system development. KEGG analysis indicated that Rg1 influenced several signalling pathways primarily involved in retinol, fat, protein and lipid metabolism. Several genes related to skeletal system development and retinol metabolism were validated by qRT-PCR. In summary, this study provides scientific evidence for the potential mechanisms of Rg1 in the therapeutic intervention of GIOP, highlighting its promise as a potential pharmacological agent for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.