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Abstract
Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis is the most common cause of secondary osteoporosis. Glucocorticoids have a profound impact on bone, predominantly through modulation of bone formation but also through effects on bone resorption. Long-term glucocorticoid therapy is associated with rapid bone loss and deterioration of bone quality. Piper sarmentosum (Ps) extract is known to possess antioxidant and antiinflammatory activity. In this study, we determined the effects of Piper sarmentosum leaves on bone biomechanical strength in glucocorticoid-induced osteoporotic rats. Three-month old male Sprague-Dawley rats (300-350g) were adrenalectomized to remove the main source of circulating glucocorticoids. These animals were induced with dexamethasone 120pg/kg body weight/day. Treatment with water-based Piper sarmentosum leaves extract 125mg/kg body weight and glycirrhizic acid (GCA) 120pg/kg body weight were given for 2 months. Following sacrifice, the right femora were taken for biomechanical assessment. Three parameters were taken for analysis (flexure modulus, flexure strain at break, and energy at break). The results showed that Piper sarmentosum leaves extract was able to significantly prevent the glucocorticoidinduced biomechanical changes in flexural modulus, flexure strain at break, and energy at break (p<0.05). The results showed that Piper sarmentosum leaves extract was able to prevent loss in bone biomechanical strength due to long-term glucocorticoid. Thus Piper sarmentosum may have the potential to be used as prophylaxis against osteoporosis and fractures in patients on long-term glucocorticoid treatment.