Pharmacological activation of the Nrf2 pathway by Taxifolin remodels articular cartilage microenvironment for the therapy of Osteoarthritis

•Our research emphasizes the remodeling of the articular cartilage microenvironment by concurrently examining the effects of Taxifolin on ECM, inflammation, and apoptosis in chondrocytes.•This study offers a novel perspective on regulating the joint microenvironment by activating the Nrf2 pathway, which holds significant clinical implications.•To our knowledge, this is the first study to explore the specific therapeutic mechanism of Taxifolin in OA.