title: Ethanol extract of Fructus Ligustri Lucidi promotes osteogenesis of mesenchymal stem cells.
abstract: Fructus Ligustri Lucidi (FLL) has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for over 1000 years. The ethanol extract of FLL (EFLL) has been shown to be a potential candidate in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. The present study aimed to determine whether EFLL carries out the effect by promoting osteogenesis in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). The osteogenic differentiation of MSCs was evaluated by their alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities and mineralization. Expression of genes was detected by RT-PCR. We found that EFLL significantly stimulated the ALP activities and shortened the time needed for the mineralization of MSCs during osteogenic differentiation. The expression of several osteoblast differentiation regulators was also upregulated by EFLL during this process. Our study demonstrated that the EFLL is capable of enhancing osteogenic differentiation of MSCs. It might be useful for treating diseases with inadequate bone formation, including osteoporosis.
authors.affiliation: Stanley Ho Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PR China.
authors.forename: Guo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiao-ai
authors.initials: XA
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jin-fang
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Chu-yan
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: David Tai Wai
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Yew
authors.forename: Ming-liang
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Marie Chia-mi
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Ping-chung
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: Hsiang-fu
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Kung
mesh_terms: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000032:analysis*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D031659:Ligustrum / Q000737:chemistry*; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase