Abstract: [Objective] To explore the mechanism of naringin (Nar) in preventing steroid-induced osteonecrosis (ON) in rats. [Methods] Seventy-three Sprague-Dawley (SD) male rats (SPF grade) were randomly divided into four groups, including blank group (n=16), model group (n=19), low-dose group (n=19) and high-dose group (n=19). Fifty-seven SD rats in model group, low-dose group and high-dose group were intraperitoneally injected 20 μg/kg LPS twice, and intramuscularly injected 40 mg/kg MPS three times every 24 h. After the initial injection of MPS, the low-dose group and the high-dose group were given Nar at 300 mg/kg and 600 mg/kg daily for 6 weeks, respectively, while the blank group and the model group were given normal saline. Serum marks, bone mineral density of femur and histological observation were assayed. The rat BMSCs were isolated and cultured, and ALP activity, calcium deposition, RT-qPCR and Western-blot were tested. [Results] The incidence of ON was ranked as model group > lowdose group > highdose group (89.5% vs 63.2% vs 26.3%, P 0.001), while the necrotic focus was concentrated in metaphysis, and there was no a significant difference in the severity of ON among all the groups (P>0.05). The trabecular bone area ratio [(0.41±0.04) vs (0.37±0.03) vs (0.35±0.02) vs (0.30± 0.03), P 0.001] and microvascular density [(2.90±1.20) vs (1.90±1.30) vs (1.50±1.10) vs (1.00±0.60), P 0.001] were ranked up-down as blank group > high-dose group > low-dose group > model group. However, bone marrow fat cells diameter [(136.60±9.60) μm vs (158.40±5.50) μm vs (184.40±8.00) μm vs (223.60± 11.60) μm, P 0.001] and fat cell density [(29.70±2.70) /mm2 vs (33.70±1.60) /mm2 vs (36.60±2.10) /mm2 vs (40.70±2.00) /mm2 , P 0.001] were of blank group < highdose group < lowdose group < model group. The Nar restored abnormal thrombomodulin, activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and thrombomodulin, tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA), tissue plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, PAI-1), lowdensity lipoprotein (LDL), highdensity lipoprotein (HDL), glutathione (GSH), and lipid peroxide (LPO) all in the dose-dependent manner, with high-dose group close to the blank group (P<0.05). Nar inhibited PPARγ2-induced lipotropic differentiation of BMSCs and enhanced osteogenic mRNA and protein expression in the dose-dependent manner (P<0.05). [Conclusion] Natural ligand Nar uses PPARγ as a key target to promote bone repair and inhibit fat hyperplasia, which is helpful for early intervention of steroid-induced femoral head necrosis involving multiple mechanisms.