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Labisia pumila extract down-regulates hydroxysteroid (11-beta) dehydrogenase 1 expression and corticosterone levels in ovariectomized rats

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Abstract

We evaluated the effects of a standardized Labisia pumila var. alata (LPva) extract on body weight change, hydroxysteroid (11-beta) dehydrogenase 1 (HSD11B1) expressions and corticosterone (CORT) level in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. The decoction of LPva has been used for generations among Malay women in Malaysia to maintain a healthy reproductive system.Thirty-six Sprague–Dawley OVX rats were treated orally with LPva extract (10, 20 or 50 mg/kg/day) or estrogen replacement (ERT) for 30 days. Sham operated rats were used as controls. Compared to untreated OVX rats, LPva-treated rats showed less weight gain and had significantly down-regulated HSD11B1 mRNA in liver tissues. HSD11B1 mRNA in adipose tissues increased by 55% (p < 0.05) in OVX rats but normalized in rats treated with LPva. Similarly, there was significant down-regulation (p < 0.05) of protein levels of HSD11B1 in both liver and adipose tissue of LPva and ERT groups, and CORT levels were significantly reduced in both groups of rats. This is the first study ever conducted to evaluate the beneficial effects of LPva in relation to weight gain caused by estrogen insufficiency. Results implied that the bioactive components in LPva extract affect not only HSD11B1 expressions in both adipose and liver tissues but also decrease circulating CORT. The extract should be explored for its potential use as a natural remedy for weight management.

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Acknowledgments

We wish to thank the Director General of Health Malaysia for his permission to publish this paper and the Director General of Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) for providing us with the voucher specimen. We also wish to thank Haji Ghazali Ahmad, Nik Fazlina and Mohd Hafizam Sani (Institute for Medical Research, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) for their laboratory technical assistance. M. Fazliana was supported by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Malaysia. This work was supported by grants from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Malaysia (Grant no. 06-05-IFN-BPH004), the Swedish Research Council and the Swedish Diabetes Association.

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The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Diabetes and Endocrine Unit, Cardiovascular, Diabetes and Nutrition Research Centre, Institute for Medical Research, Jalan Pahang, 50588, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Mansor Fazliana & W. M. Wan Nazaimoon

  2. Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, M1:03, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, 171 76, Stockholm, Sweden

    Mansor Fazliana, Harvest F. Gu & Claes-Göran Östenson

  3. Faculty of Industrial Sciences and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Lebuhraya Tun Razak, 26300, Gambang, Pahang, Malaysia

    Mashitah Mohd Yusoff

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  1. Mansor Fazliana
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  2. Harvest F. Gu
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  3. Claes-Göran Östenson
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  4. Mashitah Mohd Yusoff
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Correspondence to Mansor Fazliana.

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Fazliana, M., Gu, H.F., Östenson, CG. et al. Labisia pumila extract down-regulates hydroxysteroid (11-beta) dehydrogenase 1 expression and corticosterone levels in ovariectomized rats. J Nat Med 66, 257–264 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11418-011-0575-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11418-011-0575-1

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