title: The effects of piper sarmentosum water extract on the expression and activity of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 in the bones with excessive glucocorticoids.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Long-term glucocorticoid therapy causes secondary osteoporosis leading to pathological fractures. Glucocorticoid action in bone is dependant upon the activity of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 enzyme (11β-HSD1). Piper sarmentosum is a local herb that possesses the ability to inhibit 11-βHSD1 enzyme activity. We aimed to determine the effects of Piper sarmentosum water extract on 11-βHSD1 expressions and activity in the bones of glucocorticoid-treated adrenalectomized rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats (200-250 g) were used. Twenty-four animals were adrenalectomized and received intramuscular injection of dexamethasone (120 μg/kg/day). They were simultaneously administered with either Piper sarmentosum water extract (125 mg/kg/day), GCA (120 mg/kg/day) or distilled water as vehicle by oral gavage for two months. Eight animals were sham-operated and given vehicle daily, i.e. intramuscular olive oil and oral distilled water.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Following two months treatment, dexamethasone-treated adrenalectomized rats had significantly lower 11β-HSD1 dehydrogenase activity and higher 11β-HSD1 expression in the femoral bones compared to the sham-operated and baseline group. The rats supplemented with Piper sarmentosum water extract had significantly higher 11β-HSD1 dehydrogenase activity and lower 11β-HSD1 expression in the bones.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results showed that Piper sarmentosum water extract had the ability to prevent glucocorcoticoid excess in the bones of glucocorticoid-treated adrenalectomized rats through the local modulation of 11β-HSD1 expression and activity, and may be used as prophylaxis for osteoporosis in patients on long-term glucocorticoid treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, WP, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Elvy
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Suhana Mohd Ramli
authors.forename: Ima
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nirwana Soelaiman
authors.forename: Faizah
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Othman
authors.forename: Fairus
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nazrun Shuib
authors.forename: Norazlina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mohamed
authors.forename: Norliza
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Muhammad
authors.forename: Farihah
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hj Suhaimi
keywords: 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1; Piper sarmentosum; dexamethasone; glucocorticoids; osteoporosis