Effects of Jiawei Qiwei Baizhu powder-containing serum on the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells by enhancing proliferation and alkaline phosphatase activity

Background: Jiawei Qiwei Baizhu Powder (JQBP) has been widely applied in clinical practice for the treatment of pediatric short stature associated with spleen–kidney deficiency and dampness accumulation, showing favorable therapeutic outcomes. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) play a pivotal role in skeletal growth and development through their proliferative and osteogenic differentiation capacities. Objectives: This study aimed to explore the potential cellular mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of JQBP on pediatric short stature by investigating the effects of JQBP-containing serum on the proliferation and early osteogenic differentiation of rat BMSCs in-vitro. Methods: JQBP-containing serum and normal control serum were prepared using a serum pharmacology approach. BMSCs were isolated from Sprague–Dawley rats using the whole bone marrow adherence method and identified by flow cytometry. Cell proliferation under different serum concentrations was dynamically assessed using the CCK-8 assay. Based on proliferation outcomes, the optimal serum concentration was selected for osteogenic induction experiments. After 7 days of osteogenic induction, early osteogenic differentiation was evaluated by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining and quantitative grayscale analysis. Results: CCK-8 assays demonstrated that JQBP-containing serum significantly promoted BMSC proliferation, with the 1% concentration showing the most stable and sustained proliferative effect. Under osteogenic induction conditions, ALP staining revealed markedly enhanced ALP activity in the 1% JQBP-containing serum group compared with the induction-only group and the 1% normal serum group (P < 0.05). Quantitative grayscale analysis further confirmed significantly lower grayscale values in the 1% JQBP-containing serum group, indicating the strongest ALP activity among all groups. Conclusion: JQBP-containing serum effectively promotes BMSC proliferation and enhances early osteogenic differentiation in-vitro. These findings suggest that JQBP may facilitate bone growth by directly activating osteogenic precursor cells, providing experimental evidence for integrating traditional Chinese medicine into modern growth-related therapeutics.