Osteogenic Activity

Bone modeling effect is one of the bioactivities osthole showing most promising therapeutic potential. Plenty of in vitro studies have shown that osthole and coumarin extract from FC promoted proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts  and suppress formation and activity of osteoclasts, hence tipping the balance in favor of bone remodeling and increasing bone density, which makes osthole a potential agent for osteoporosis treatment.

Anticancer Effect

Accumulating experimental evidences have shown that osthole exhibited antiproliferative properties and induced apoptosis in various kinds of tumor cells, including leukemia; prostatic cancer cell; cervical cancer cell; ovarian cancer cell; lung cancer cell; epidermal cancer cell; breast cancer cell; and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatoprotective Effect and Benefits on Metabolic Diseases

Liver is regarded as one of the vital organs that functions as a center for metabolism of nutrients and excretion of wastes. Osthole exerts protective effects against hepatitis.

Vasorelaxant Properties and Cardiovascular Benefits

Osthole exhibits protective effect on heart and circulatory system. Abnormal vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation is a major component of vascular disease including atherosclerosis, vein graft occlusion, and restenosis after angioplasty, whereas osthole treatment selectively inhibits the proliferation of those vascular smooth muscle cells.

Antimicrobial and Antiparasitic Effect

Osthole exerts antifungal properties on numbers of fungi species. Experimental evidences showed that osthole inhibited hypha growth of Fusarium graminearum, a parasite found on common weeds and cereal crops, through glucose starvation, and controlled powdery mildew caused by Sphaerotheca fuliginea via inhibiting spore germination and mycelia growth. Osthole derivatives exhibited curative effect on pepper blight caused by Phytophthora capsici. Other antibacterial activities on both gram positive and gram negative bacteria were also reported.