title: Piper sarmentosum is comparable to glycyrrhizic acid in reducing visceral fat deposition in adrenalectomised rats given dexamethasone.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Visceral obesity may be due to the dysregulation of cortisol production or metabolism that lead to metabolic disease. In adipose tissue, the enzyme 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 regulates cortisol metabolism (11beta-HSD1). A previous study showed an increase in the visceral fat deposition in adrenalectomised rats given intramuscular dexamethasone. Glycyrrhizic acid (GCA) has been shown to reduce fat deposition because it is a known potent inhibitor of the 11beta-HSD1 enzyme. Piper sarmentosum (PS) is an edible medicinal plant commonly used in Asia as traditional medicine for treating diabetes, hypertension and joint pains. In this study, we determined the effects of PS extract on the disposition and morphology of perirenal adipocytes of adrenalectomised rats given intramuscular dexamethasone.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 21 male Spraque Dawley rats were adrenalectomised and given intramuscular dexamethasone, 120 μg/kg/day. These rats were further divided into three groups: adrenalectomised control (ADR+Dexa; n=7), GCA-treated (ADR+Dexa+GCA; dose=240 mg/kg/day; n=7) and PS-treated (ADR+Dexa+PS; dose=125 mg/kg/day; n=7) groups. The various treatments were given via gastric gavage following 2 weeks of adrenalectomy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment with PS extract for 8 weeks showed decreased deposition of perirenal adipocytes which was similar to the GCA-treated group. However, PS-treated rats had thinner adipocyte membrane compared with that of the GCA-treated group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, PS extract decreased perirenal fat deposition and reduced the diameter of the adipocyte membrane. However, the mechanisms of action needed further study.
authors: Department of Anatomy and Pharmacology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Fairus
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Ima Nirwana
authors: M R
authors: MR
authors: Elvy Suhana
authors: M H
authors: MH
authors: Tan
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Santhana
authors: H S
authors: HS
authors: Farihah
mesh_terms: D043205:11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 1 / Q000187:drug effects; D000315:Adrenalectomy; D000818:Animals; D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D019695:Glycyrrhizic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D031701:Piper; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D019695:Glycyrrhizic Acid; D043205:11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 1