Objective:To investigate the effect of icariin on the proliferation,differentiation,and the mRNA expressions of Cbfα1,BMP2,BMP4 of rat osteoblasts.Methods: Primary rat osteoblastic cells were obtained by sequentia collagenase/trypsin enzyme digestion from calvarial bones of new born(within 24 h) SD rats and were identified by Alkaline phosphatase and alizarin red staining.The passage 3-5 cells were treated with icariin at the concentration of 0 mol/L,10-8 mol/L,10-7 mol/L,10-6 mol/L,10-5 mol/L,10-4 mol/L fo...