title: Fructus ligustri lucidi ethanol extract improves bone mineral density and properties through modulating calcium absorption-related gene expression in kidney and duodenum of growing rats.
abstract: Optimizing peak bone mass in early life is one of key preventive strategies against osteoporosis. Fructus ligustri lucidi (FLL), the fruit of Ligustrum lucidum Ait., is a commonly prescribed herb in many kidney-tonifying traditional Chinese medicinal formulas to alleviate osteoporosis. Previously, FLL extracts have been shown to have osteoprotective effect in aged or ovariectomized rats. In the present study, we investigated the effects of FLL ethanol extract on bone mineral density (BMD) and mechanical properties in growing male rats and explored the underlying mechanisms. Male weaning Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into four groups and orally administrated for 4 months an AIN-93G formula-based diet supplementing with different doses of FLL ethanol extract (0.40, 0.65, and 0.90 %) or vehicle control, respectively. Then calcium balance, serum level of Ca, P, 25(OH)2D3, 1,25(OH)2D3, osteocalcin (OCN), C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX-I), and parathyroid hormone, bone microarchitecture, and calcium absorption-related genes expression in duodenum and kidney were analyzed. The results demonstrated that FLL ethanol extract increased BMD of growing rats and improved their bone microarchitecture and mechanical properties. FLL ethanol extract altered bone turnover, as evidenced by increasing a bone formation maker, OCN, and decreasing a bone resorption maker, CTX-I. Intriguingly, both Ca absorption and Ca retention rate were elevated by FLL ethanol extract treatment, possibly through the mechanisms of up-regulating the transcriptions of calcitropic genes in kidney (1α-hydroxylase) and duodenum (vitamin D receptor, calcium transporter calbindin-D9k, and transient receptor potential vanilloid 6). In conclusion, FLL ethanol extract increased bone mass gain and improved bone properties via modulating bone turnover and up-regulating calcium absorption-related gene expression in kidney and duodenum, which could then activate 1,25(OH)2D3-dependent calcium transport in male growing rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lyu
authors.forename: Zhenghao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Yuehui
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Pengling
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Yajun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Haotian
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Feng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000378:metabolism; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000737:chemistry*; D004386:Duodenum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D000431:Ethanol; D005269:Femur / Q000187:drug effects; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D031659:Ligustrum / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol / Q000378:metabolism; D064030:S100 Calcium Binding Protein G / Q000378:metabolism; D013250:Steroid Hydroxylases / Q000378:metabolism; D050916:TRPV Cation Channels / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D010936:Plant Extracts; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol; D064030:S100 Calcium Binding Protein G; D050916:TRPV Cation Channels; C120776:TRPV6 channel; D014807:Vitamin D; D000431:Ethanol; D013250:Steroid Hydroxylases; C406322:vitamin D 1-alpha hydroxylase; D002118:Calcium