Abstract

Vitamin D is one of the fat-soluble vitamins structurally derived from cholesterol and similar to the reproductive hormones by possessing the ABCD hexagonal rings. Its open seco-B triene B ring along with the possession of 1,25 dihydroxycholesterol side chain has been postulated as possible configuration allowing for its flexibility to interact with many tissues including bones causing myriads of biological effects that are medicinally beneficial. Aside from the established role of vitamin D in bone and mineral metabolic diseases, exploiting this property of the vitamin had been in practice in orthodox medical practice and even in traditional sub-Sahara method of managing many disease conditions.

Keywords: plant sources of vitamin D, medicinal application, bone and mineral metabolism
