VEGFA and Arthritis: One in vitro study reported that formononetin had a positive effect on osteoblasts by increasing the expression of alkaline phosphatase, vascular endothelial growth factor, bone morphogenic protein-2, type I collagen, and osteocalcin in subchondral osteoblasts isolated from normal subjects, and by suppressing their expression in subchondral osteoblasts isolated from patients with arthritis.