the effects of piper sarmentosum water extract on the expression and activity of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 in the bones with excessive glucocorticoids

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 glucocorti-coid-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. conclusion: 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.