Ethanol extract of Fructus Ligustri Lucidi increases circulating 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 by inducing renal 25-hydroxyvitamin D-1α hydroxylase activity.
OBJECTIVE
The present study was designed to determine whether Fructus Ligustri Lucidi (FLL) ethanol extract can directly regulate vitamin D metabolism both in vivo and in vitro.


METHODS
Eleven-month-old, aged Sprague-Dawley sham-operated and ovariectomized (OVX) female rats were fed a normal-calcium (Ca) diet (0.6% Ca, 0.65% phosphorus) and received either FLL (700 mg/kg) or vehicle daily for 12 weeks. The in vitro effects of FLL on vitamin D metabolism were studied using primary cultures of the rat renal proximal tubules. mRNA and protein expressions of 25-hydroxyvitamin D-1α hydroxylase (1-OHase) and vitamin D receptor (VDR) in the kidney and proximal tubule were measured using real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting, respectively. The concentrations of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) synthesized by renal 1-OHase were measured by a competitive enzyme immunoassay.


RESULTS
FLL treatment significantly increased serum 1,25(OH)2D3 levels in both sham (P < 0.01) and OVX (P < 0.05) rats. FLL increased renal 1-OHase and VDR protein and mRNA expressions in sham rats. Protein expression of renal 1-OHase, but not VDR, was also up-regulated in OVX rats during FLL treatment. 1-OHase mRNA and 1-OHase activity were increased by FLL treatment in primary cultures of renal proximal tubule cells.


CONCLUSIONS
FLL could increase the circulating levels of 1,25(OH)2D3 in vivo in aged female rats by directly stimulating 1-OHase activity. Thus, it might be an ideal oral agent that can help to improve the ability to induce 1,25(OH)2D3 synthesis and Ca balance in postmenopausal women who are of high risk of developing osteoporosis.
Dong
Xiao-Li
XL
Institute of Molecular Technology for Drug Discovery and Synthesis, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China.
Zhang
Yan
Y
Favus
Murray J
MJ
Che
Chun-Tao
CT
Wong
Man-Sau
MS
D015090:25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 1-alpha-Hydroxylase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood*; D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000378:metabolism; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D007687:Kidney Tubules, Proximal / Q000201:enzymology*; D031659:Ligustrum; D010052:Ovariectomy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol; D015090:25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 1-alpha-Hydroxylase; D002117:Calcitriol