人参皂苷compound K（C-K）属稀有人参皂苷，仅在三七和人参果中微量存在，但它是其它含量丰富的二醇型人参皂苷Rb、Rc等在人肠道内的主要肠道菌代谢产物，是真正被机体吸收的作用实体，具有广泛的生物活性。本课题在前期研究中发现了C-K具有诱导成骨细胞分化的新活性，并通过基因芯片和RT-PCR分析发现C-K具有上调经典Wnt/β-catenin信号通路的新作用机制。本课题旨在通过合理的实验设计，进一步完善C-K诱导成骨分化的生物活性研究，并从分子水平系统研究C-K对经典Wnt/β-catenin信号通路产生哪些影响，阐述C-K诱导成骨细胞分化的作用机制，并通过蛋白分子阻断和RNA干扰技术，研究C-K的关键作用靶点。目前关于C-K在骨代谢和Wnt/β-catenin信号通上的研究在国内外均未见文献报道，本课题的开展对C-K的基础理论研究和新药开发均具有重要意义。

Ginsenoside compound K (C-K), as a rare ginsenoside, is the main degradation product of other natural rich protopanaxadiol-type ginsenosides in human gut. It is the real entity absorbed and has a wide range of biological activities. In the preliminary studies of this project, we firstly found a new activity of C-K in inducing osteogenic differentiation, and the up-regulating activity on canonical Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway by RT-PCR and gene microarray analysis. This project aims to further study the activity of C-K in osteogenic differentiation and the impacts of C-K on canonical Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway by rational experimental design, in order to systematically describe the mechanism of C-K from molecular level. Moreover, by protein blocking and RNA interference, we hope to find the key targets of Wnt/β-catenin signal interrupted by C-K. There is no reports about the studies of C-K on bone metabolism and Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway through the world。 This project has great meaning in opening a new area of basic research of C-K and drug development.