Ligustrum lucidum Nu zhen zi, Waxy Privet Broadleaf Privet -Eastern-

Ligustrum lucidum. 女真子 Nü zhēn zǐ Waxy Privet, Broadleaf Privet Family: Olaceae
PART USED: Fruit
FLAVOR: Sweet, bitter
FUNCTIONS
GROUP: Yin tonic- Liver and Kidneys
1. Nourishes the Yin, supplements the Kidneys, strengthens muscles and bones, promotes clear vision and hearing.^[1]
INDICATIONS
1. Yin deficiency and internal Heat: Symptoms- Dizziness, blurred vision, ringing in ears.^[1,2] Premature grey hair. Rheumatoid pains and weakness of back and knees.^[1,2] Insomnia.^[2] Palpitations.^[2] Deafness.^[2]
2. Constipation.^[1]
3. Chronic benzene poisoning, diminished number of white cells.^[2]
COMBINATIONS
- Yin deficiency with hyperactivity of Yang: Tonifies and nourishes the Liver and Kidney, subdude Yang hyperactitiy, extinguishes internal Wind, promotes diuresis Achyranthes & Cassia- Yang yin jiang ya fang.
PREPARATIONS: Decoction. Seeds 6-15 g.^[1] Dried ripe fruit 9-15 g.^[2]
3. Ligustrum lucidum fruit- dried

HABITAT: Grows on hillsides, wild places and roadsides.
DESCRIPTION: Evergreen shrub. Stem; erect, as tall as 10 m, branching, Leaves; leathery, opposite, glabrous, ovate or elliptical, 4 cm long, 2-4 cm wide, apexes acute, bases broadly cuneate or round-obtuse, margins intact. Flowers; in summer, numerous small white, appearing on branch terminals. Fruit; ellipsoid, bluish-black when ripe.
References
Inner Path can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

Constituents

Research

Effect of Ligustrum lucidum and Schisandra chinensis on the egg production, antioxidant status and immunity of laying hens during heat stress.
Ma D, Shan A, Chen Z, Du J, Song K, Li J, Xu Q.
Abstract
The experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of two plants belonging to Chinese herbal medicines, Ligustrum lucidum (LL) and Schisandra chinensis (SC), on the laying performance, antioxidant status and immunity of hens during heat stress. The results showed that diets supplement with 1% of either LL or SC had beneficial effects on egg production and FCR of hens during heat stress (p < 0.05), compared with the control group. Either LL or SC significantly reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration of heart, liver, sera and egg yolk. In addition, glutathione reductase (GR) activity of tissues and sera of the birds was significantly elevated by supplementation LL or SC. Furthermore, LL or SC supplementation significantly elevated lymphoblastogenese of the birds and the antibody values against Newcastle disease virus (NDV). The results suggest that diets supplement with 1% of either LL or SC may enhance egg production, immune function, and antioxidant status of hens during heat stress.
PMID: 16429829 DOI: 10.1080/17450390500353499 Arch Anim Nutr. 2005 Dec;59(6):439-47. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of Ligustrum lucidum and Schisandra chinensis on the egg production, antioxidant status and immunity of laying hens during heat stress.
Ma D, Shan A, Chen Z, Du J, Song K, Li J, Xu Q.
Abstract
The experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of two plants belonging to Chinese herbal medicines, Ligustrum lucidum (LL) and Schisandra chinensis (SC), on the laying performance, antioxidant status and immunity of hens during heat stress. The results showed that diets supplement with 1% of either LL or SC had beneficial effects on egg production and FCR of hens during heat stress (p < 0.05), compared with the control group. Either LL or SC significantly reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration of heart, liver, sera and egg yolk. In addition, glutathione reductase (GR) activity of tissues and sera of the birds was significantly elevated by supplementation LL or SC. Furthermore, LL or SC supplementation significantly elevated lymphoblastogenese of the birds and the antibody values against Newcastle disease virus (NDV). The results suggest that diets supplement with 1% of either LL or SC may enhance egg production, immune function, and antioxidant status of hens during heat stress.
PMID: 16429829 DOI: 10.1080/17450390500353499 Arch Anim Nutr. 2005 Dec;59(6):439-47. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Protective effects of Ligustrum lucidum fruit extract on acute butylated hydroxytoluene-induced oxidative stress in rats.
Lin HM, Yen FL, Ng LT, Lin CC.
Abstract
Nuzhenzi, the fruit of Ligustrum lucidum Ait. (Oleaceae), is commonly used as tonic for kidney and liver in the traditional Chinese medicine prescription. The present study aimed to investigate the antioxidant activities of ethanol extract of Ligustrum lucidum fruits (ELL) and its effects on butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)-induced oxidative stress in rats. Results showed that ELL possesses weak antioxidant activities. Compared to the BHT (1000mg/kg)-treated group, results showed that ELL at 250, 500 and 1000mg/kg significantly reduced the levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (sGPT), glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (sGOT), alkaline phosphatase (sALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), triglyceride (TG) and creatinine (Cr), as well as LDH in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). It also significantly decreased the level of lipid peroxides in liver and lung. In addition, ELL significantly enhanced the levels of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in these organs. Histopathological evaluation of the tissues revealed that ELL reduced the incidence of lung lesions, while the liver and kidney tissues were not affected by BHT administration. Taken together, the protective effect of ELL against acute BHT-induced oxidative stress in rats could be through the upregulation of antioxidant enzymes.
PMID: 17157464 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2006.11.004 J Ethnopharmacol. 2007 Apr 20;111(1):129-36. Epub 2006 Nov 10. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Ligustrum lucidum and its Constituents: A Mini-Review on the Anti-Osteoporosis Potential.
Che CT, Wong MS.
Abstract
Osteoporosis is a metabolic bone disorder commonly occurred in aging populations, particularly postmenopausal women and patients who undergo long-term steroid or anti-estrogen therapies. Given the rapid growth of the aging population, the prevalence of bone loss, and the huge medical and healthcare cost involved, demand for alternative approaches for the promotion of bone health is pressing. With the advent of global interest in complementary and alternative medicine and natural products, Chinese medicine serves as a viable source that offers benefits to improve and maintain bone health. This review summarizes the scientific information on the Chinese medicinal herb Ligustrum lucidum and its chemical components as potential therapy for osteoporosis.
PMID: 26882695 Nat Prod Commun. 2015 Dec;10(12):2189-94. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Antidiabetic potential of oleanolic acid from Ligustrum lucidum Ait.
Gao D1, Li Q, Li Y, Liu Z, Liu Z, Fan Y, Han Z, Li J, Li K.
Abstract
Ligustrum lucidum Ait. has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for over 1000 years because of its anti-tumor, antimutagenic, antidiabetic, and hepatoprotective properties. The aim of this study was to determine whether oleanolic acid (OA) is the principal active compound of L. lucidum responsible for its antidiabetic properties, and to examine its effect on the expression of thyroid hormones and insulin secretion, thus revealing the mechanism by which L. lucidum modulates insulin levels in diabetes. When rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes were treated with OA (100 and 200 mg/kg body mass per day, for 40 days), the changes in blood glucose levels and in oral glucose tolerance tests showed that hypoglycemia was more pronounced in OA-treated groups than in the diabetic control rats, and that the levels of triglyceride, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoportein cholesterol in OA-treated rats were lower than those in the diabetic control rats, whose high-density lipoprotein cholesterol increased. OA-treated rats also gained weight, and exhibited increased serum insulin levels. In contrast, OA treatment did not effect the levels of thyroid hormone or TSH in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes. These results indicate that OA has hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects. OA treatment might stimulate insulin release, and consequently, results in the modulation of glucose levels and regulation of lipid metabolism.
PMID: 18066109 DOI: 10.1139/Y07-098 Can J Physiol Pharmacol. 2007 Nov;85(11):1076-83. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Antioxidative glucosides from the fruits of Ligustrum lucidum.
He ZD, But PPH, Chan TW, Dong H, Xu HX, Lau CP, Sun HD.
Abstract
The ethanol extract of the fruits of Ligustrum lucidum was shown to have inhibitory effects on the hemolysis of red blood cells induced by 2,2'-azo-bis-(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride. Bioassay-guided analysis led to the isolation of ten secoiridoid glucosides. Two of them were new, lucidumosides C and D. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. The other eight compounds were identified as oleoside dimethyl ester, ligustroside, oleuropein, nuezhenide, isonuezhenide, neonuezhenide, lucidumoside A and lucidumoside B. Five compounds, oleoside dimethyl ester, oleuropein, neonuezhenide, lucidumoside B and lucidumoside C, exhibited strong antioxidant effect against hemolysis of red blood cells induced by free radicals.
PMID: 11411539 Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo). 2001 Jun;49(6):780-4. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov