Osteoprotective effects of Fructus Ligustri Lucidi aqueous extract in aged ovariectomized rats

Abstract

BackgroundFructus Ligustri Lucidi (FLL) is a commonly used herb for treating bone disorders in Chinese medicine. The present study investigates the anti-osteoporotic activity of FLL aqueous extract in the model of postmenopausal bone loss in aged ovariectomized (OVX) female rats.MethodsAfter eight weeks of treatment of FLL or water, the lumbar spine was scanned by peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT). Effects of FLL water extract on osteogenic and adipogenic differentiations in rat mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were assessed by biochemical methods and staining.ResultsFLL aqueous extract significantly inhibited bone mineral density (BMD) loss in total, trabecular and cortical bones without affecting body weight and uterus wet weight. FLL extract significantly promoted osteogenesis and suppressed adipogenesis in MSCs as indicated by the elevated alkaline phosphatase activity, calcium deposition levels and decreased adipocyte number in a dose-dependent manner without cytotoxic effects. Real-time PCR analysis revealed significant increase of osteoprotegerin (OPG)-to-receptor activator for nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) mRNA, indicating a decrease in osteoclastogenesis.ConclusionThe present study demonstrates the osteoprotective effects of FLL aqueous extract on aged OVX rats, stimulation of osteogenesis, inhibition of adipogenesis and osteoclastogenesis in MSCs.

Multitargeted combination effects of a triherbal formulation containing ELP against osteoporosis: in vitro evidence

“…It was reported that Epimedii Herba‐derived flavonoids could exert anabolic effects on osteoporotic bone from ovariectomized rats by concomitantly promoting osteogenic and suppressing adipogenic differentiation of bone mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) . This result was similar to our previous finding on the osteoprotective effects of Ligustri Lucidi Fructus aqueous extract in aged ovariectomized rats . Besides, Fructus Psoraleae extract was reported to be effective in increasing the bone density and improving the bone architecture in vivo .…”

Antioxidant Effect of Fructus Ligustri Lucidi Aqueous Extract in Ovariectomized Rats Is Mediated through Nox4-ROS-NF-κB Pathway

“…We and others demonstrate that FLL improves Bone mineral density (BMD) and bone microstructure as well as bone mechanical strength in both aged (Ko et al, 2010) and growing female rats (Feng et al, 2014) as well as ovariectomized (OVX) rats (Zhang et al, 2006; Lyu et al, 2014; Guo et al, 2016a). FLL exhibited bone protective effects by improving calcium absorption and balance via increasing gene expression of transient receptor potential vanilloid 6 and calcium-binding protein-9k, and by decreasing renal calcium-sensing receptor gene expression (Zhang Y. et al, 2014; Zhang et al, 2015) via stimulating 1.25(OH) 2 D 3 /vitamin D receptor signaling (Feng et al, 2014) through inducing the activity of renal 25-hydroxyvitamin D-1α hydroxylase (Dong et al, 2010), as well as by stimulating parathyroid hormone production in mature normal female rats (Dong et al, 2012) and in type 1 diabetic mice (Zhang Y. et al, 2014).…”

Suppression of mast cell activity contributes to the osteoprotective effect of an herbal formula containing Herba Epimedii, Fructus Ligustri Lucidi and Fructus Psoraleae

“…[14] FLL was shown to stimulate osteogenesis, inhibition of adipogenesis and osteoclastogenesis in rat mesenchymal stem cells in aged OVX rats. [15] FP exhibited osteoblastic proliferation stimulating activity in rat osteoblast-like cell line UMR106 [16] and promoted bone calcification. [17] Recently, a herbal formula named ELP consisting these thee herbs, HP, FLL and FP, in the ratio of 5 : 4 : 1, respectively, has been demonstrated to reduce bone loss at the femoral neck in rats which osteoporosis were caused by ovariectomy and calcium deficiency as well as physical inactivity.…”

“…Extracts of HEP and its constituents could inhibit bone resorption, stimulate bone formation and accordingly prevent osteoporosis without hyperplastic effect on uterus in OVX rats . FLL was shown to stimulate osteogenesis, inhibition of adipogenesis and osteoclastogenesis in rat mesenchymal stem cells in aged OVX rats . FP exhibited osteoblastic proliferation stimulating activity in rat osteoblast‐like cell line UMR106 and promoted bone calcification .…”