Cycloastragenol as an Exogenous Enhancer of Chondrogenic Differentiation of Human Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells. A Morphological Study

Stem cell therapy and tissue engineering represent a promising approach for cartilage regeneration. However, they present limits in terms of mechanical properties and premature de-differentiation of engineered cartilage. Cycloastragenol (CAG), a triterpenoid saponin compound and a hydrolysis product of the main ingredient in Astragalus membranaceous, has been explored for cartilage regeneration. The aim of this study was to investigate CAG’s...