Central Laboratory of the Institute of Molecular Technology for Drug Discovery and Synthesis, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, People's Republic of China.
Br J Nutr. 2012 Jul 14;108(1):92-101. doi: 10.1017/S0007114511005186. Epub 2011 Oct 12.
Fructus Ligustri Lucidi (FLL) is a commonly prescribed herb in many kidney-tonifying Traditional Chinese Medicinal formulae for the treatment of osteoporosis. The present study aimed to identify the active fractions in FLL and to characterise its effects on Ca balance, calciotropic hormone levels as well as bone properties in mature female rats fed diets containing different levels of Ca. In the present study, 4-month-old Sprague-Dawley female rats were treated with either FLL ethanol extract (EE), ethyl acetate-soluble fraction of EE (EAF), water-soluble fraction of EE (WF) or their vehicle for 12 weeks on a medium-Ca diet (MCD, 0·6 % Ca, 0·65 % P). Then, the Sprague-Dawley female rats treated with WF or its vehicle for 12 weeks were fed diets containing different levels of dietary Ca (low-Ca diet (LCD), 0·1 % Ca, 0·65 % P; MCD; high-Ca diet (HCD), 1·2 % Ca, 0·65 % P). The results demonstrated that WF from EE but not EAF exerted a prominent effect on Ca balance by inhibiting urinary and faecal Ca excretion. WF significantly increased Ca balance in rats fed MCD or HCD with an associated increase in serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels. WF did not alter bone mineral density or bone mineral content of the tibia in all the rats fed with different levels of dietary Ca. In conclusion, WF was responsible for the positive actions of FLL on Ca absorption and balance. The regulation of Ca balance by WF might involve its action in stimulating PTH production in the mature female rats.
女贞子（Fructus Ligustri Lucidi，FLL）是许多补肾中药方剂中常用的草药，用于治疗骨质疏松症。本研究旨在鉴定 FLL 的活性部位，并研究其对不同钙水平饮食喂养的成熟雌性大鼠钙平衡、钙调节激素水平以及骨特性的影响。在本研究中，4 月龄 Sprague-Dawley 雌性大鼠用 FLL 乙醇提取物（EE）、EE 的乙酸乙酯可溶部分（EAF）、EE 的水溶性部分（WF）或其溶剂在中钙饮食（MCD，0.6%钙，0.65%磷）上处理 12 周。然后，用 WF 或其溶剂处理 12 周的 Sprague-Dawley 雌性大鼠用不同钙水平饮食（低钙饮食（LCD），0.1%钙，0.65%磷；MCD；高钙饮食（HCD），1.2%钙，0.65%磷）喂养 12 周。结果表明，EE 的 WF 而不是 EAF 对钙平衡有显著影响，通过抑制尿钙和粪钙排泄。WF 显著增加 MCD 或 HCD 喂养大鼠的钙平衡，同时血清甲状旁腺激素（PTH）水平升高。WF 未改变所有用不同钙水平饮食喂养大鼠的胫骨骨矿物质密度或骨矿物质含量。总之，WF 是 FLL 对钙吸收和平衡产生积极作用的原因。WF 对钙平衡的调节可能涉及刺激成熟雌性大鼠 PTH 产生的作用。
