A traditional herbal decoction regulates skeletal muscle satellite cell osteogenesis and myogenesis for repairing osteosarcopenic fractures via β-catenin

• The herbal decoction (HD) acts as a β-catenin agonist, promoting osteogenic and myogenic differentiation of skeletal muscle satellite cells (SMSCs) to enhance osteoporotic fracture healing. • Conditional knockout of β-catenin in SMSCs (Pax7-CreERT2/+;β-cateninfx/fx) leads to sarcopenia and osteoporosis, confirming the critical role of β-catenin in muscle-bone crosstalk. • HD treatment significantly increases bone mass, repairs bone microstructure, and promotes muscle fiber remodeling around fractures in mice, offering a dual therapeutic effect on bone and muscle. • This study provides the first evidence that a traditional herbal formula can simultaneously address osteosarcopenic fractures by targeting SMSC-mediated regeneration, potentially filling a gap in current pharmacological treatments.