In this study,we confirm that glucocorticoid disturbs osteogenic differentiation characterized by the declined alkaline phosphatase activity,the decreased alkaline phosphatase staining intensities,the reduced Runx2 protein expression and the diminished extracellular matrix mineralization in SaoS-2 cells.In contrast,icariin increases osteogenic capacity and reverses the decreased osteoblastic phenotypes induced by glucocorticoid.Dexamethasone and icariin regulate osteogenic differentiation and DEC1 participates in this process.