Profile

Led an NSFC project on Eucommia leaf promotion of osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells

Story

Liu Ronghua is a professor at Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine. Based at the National Engineering Research Center for Manufacturing Technology of TCM Solid Preparations, he led a National Natural Science Foundation project investigating the material basis of Eucommia leaves' 'sinew-and-bone-strengthening' efficacy. His team systematically isolated and identified iridoids, lignans, and other constituents from Eucommia leaves, with several compounds reported for the first time in this genus.

At the mechanistic level, he found that active constituents of Eucommia leaves can induce proliferation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and drive their osteogenic differentiation, elucidating the role of signaling pathways such as ERK and establishing a 'Eucommia leaf–stem cell–osteogenesis' research framework. The achievement was nominated for the Jiangxi Provincial Science and Technology Award, providing cellular and molecular evidence for using Eucommia leaves in place of the bark in medicine.

Milestones

• In April 2021, participated as a candidate in the public announcement of nominated projects for the Jiangxi Provincial Science and Technology Award (in collaboration with Luo Jun and colleagues at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University)
• Published 'Research Progress on the Pharmacological Effects and Clinical Application of Eucommia in Strengthening Sinews and Bones' (Journal of Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine) in 2015

Key Contributions

• Led NSFC Regional Program project 81160508, 'Material Basis and Molecular Mechanisms of Eucommia Leaf-Induced Proliferation and Osteogenic Differentiation of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells' (RMB 520,000, 2012–2015)
• His team isolated and identified 10 compounds from Eucommia leaves, all isolated from the genus Eucommia for the first time (Journal of Chinese Medicinal Materials, 2014)
• Discovered that quercetin from Eucommia leaf extract promotes BMSC proliferation by activating ERK phosphorylation (Lishizhen Medicine and Materia Medica Research, 2014)
• The achievement 'Effects and Mechanisms of Active Constituents of Eucommia Leaves in Regulating BMSC Proliferation and Differentiation to Promote Osteogenesis' was nominated for the 2021 Jiangxi Provincial Science and Technology Award