RESUMO
CONTEXT: Our previous biological study demonstrated that Fructus Ligustri Lucidi (FLL), the fruit of Ligustrum lucidum Ait. (Oleaceae), could be used to maintain calcium balance and prevent age-related osteoporosis since it effectively decreased calcium loss and increased calcium retention in rats. OBJECTIVE: This study investigates the combination effect of the Chinese herbal medicine FLL and a high calcium diet on calcium imbalance induced by ovariectomy in mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The ovariectomized (OVX) mice were orally treated with vehicle, FLL extract (700 mg/kg), milk powder (5 g/mice) fortified with calcium (1.0% Ca) and the combination of FLL with milk powder. After 6 weeks of treatment, urine, serum, and tibia were preserved for biochemical analysis and kidneys were taken for gene expression analysis. RESULTS: The combination treatment of FLL and a high calcium diet significantly increased bone calcium content (6.80 ± 0.34 mg) by 22% (p < 0.05) and decreased urine calcium excretion (0.099 ± 0.009 mg/mg) by 62% (p < 0.01) as compared with those of the OVX group (bone Ca, 5.57 ± 0.31 mg; urine Ca/Cr, 0.261 ± 0.017 mg/mg). The mRNA expression of renal calcium-binding protein-9k (CaBP-9k) and calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) in combination treatment group was significantly up-regulated and down-regulated, respectively, as compared with those of the OVX group. CONCLUSION: The beneficial effects of this combination therapy on calcium balance of OVX mice were, at least partially, attributed to its regulation on mRNA expression of CaBP-9k and CaSR in kidney.
Assuntos
Cálcio da Dieta/administração & dosagem , Cálcio/metabolismo , Medicamentos de Ervas Chinesas/uso terapêutico , Ligustrum , Osteoporose/metabolismo , Ovariectomia , Animais , Terapia Combinada/métodos , Medicamentos de Ervas Chinesas/isolamento & purificação , Feminino , Frutas , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos ICR , Osteoporose/etiologia , Osteoporose/terapia , Ovariectomia/efeitos adversosRESUMO
CONTEXT: Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) has been widely used in clinical practice to treat bone disease for thousands of years. They are cost-effective with fewer side effects and are more suitable for long-term use compared with chemically synthesized medicines. OBJECTIVE: Chinese herbal formula prescribed among the CHMs is safe, and it is an alternative medicine for bone-related diseases such as osteoporosis. METHODS: Science Direct and Google Scholar were used to search articles published. The input key words were CHM, osteoporosis, Chinese herbal formula, traditional Chinese medicine, single herb, multiple-herbs, and bone health. CHMs (single herb and formula) lacking sufficient proof and evidence in the literature were excluded and only those with high citation were retained. RESULTS: A brief review was summarized to indicate the application and the potential mechanism of single herb formula and multi-herb formula in treating the common bone-related diseases such as inflammation, fracture, osteopenia, and osteoporosis. CONCLUSION: In order to ensure safety and efficacy of all these CHMs, the prescriptions with single herb and multi-component formula must be verified and ensured by reliable pharmacological and toxicological methods. Much more effort needs to be done for studying the standardization, safety evaluation, and mechanism exploration of herb formula as well as confirming the compatibility of these herbs which make one.
Assuntos
Doenças Ósseas/tratamento farmacológico , Medicamentos de Ervas Chinesas/uso terapêutico , Medicina Tradicional Chinesa/métodos , Animais , Doenças Ósseas/fisiopatologia , Medicamentos de Ervas Chinesas/efeitos adversos , Medicamentos de Ervas Chinesas/química , Humanos , Medicina Tradicional Chinesa/efeitos adversos , Testes de Toxicidade/métodosRESUMO
CONTEXT: Prenylated flavonoids are a unique class of naturally occurring flavonoids that exist especially for the plant's self-defensive strategy. This special class of flavonoids increases the bioactivities of their backbone flavonoids with non-prenylation; therefore, prenylated flavonoids have more potential to be developed and utilized. OBJECTIVE: The number, position and type of the prenyl group on the flavonoids backbone structure may have close relationships with the bioactivities of flavonoids. METHODS: PubMed and WEB OF KNOWLEDGE® were used to search articles published in English between 1 January 2002 and 31 December 2012, which discuss the structure-activity relationship between prenylated flavonoids and their bioactivities. RESULTS: It is proposed that the prenyl-moiety makes the backbone compound more lipophilic, which leads to its high affinity with cell membranes. The prenylation brings the flavonoids with enhancement of antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, cytotoxicity, larvicidal as well as estrogenic activities. However, it is reported that the prenyl-moiety decreases the bioavailability and plasma absorption of prenylated flavonoids. CONCLUSION: The prenyl group affects the bioactivities of flavonoids in certain ways, while the action mechanisms and the structure-activity relationship as well as more in vivo studies even clinical validation trials need to be further investigated.