Research Journal of Medicinal Plants1819-34552151-7924Science International10.3923/rjmp.2009.109.115Piper sarmentosum (Kaduk) Water Extract on Adiponectin and Blood Glucose Levels in Ovariectomy-Induced Obese Rats]]>AzlinaA. Aida FarihahS. QodriyahM.S. AzlinaM.F. Nur 3200933This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Piper sarmentosum (PS) extract and glycyrrhizic acid (GCA) on plasma adiponectin and blood glucose in ovariectomy-induced obese rats. Twenty eight female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups. Three groups were ovariectomized (OVX), while the remaining group underwent sham operation. The OVX groups were given PS water extract (0.125 g kg-1), GCA (0.120 g kg-1) and water (CTRL), respectively, while the Sham-Operated (SHM) group received only water. Plasma adiponectin and blood glucose were measured at zero, three and five months of treatment, while body weight was measured weekly. All the OVX groups had a significant reduction (p<0.05) in the plasma adiponectin compared to the SHM group. After three and five months of treatment, both PS and GCA treated group showed a significant increment (p<0.05) in the plasma adiponectin level compared to CTRL group. While, the blood glucose level, only PS treated group showed significant reduction (p<0.05) after three and five months of treatment compared to CTRL group but no significant difference (p<0.05) occurred in body weight compared to CTRL group. Our finding suggests that water extract of Piper sarmentosum may have the ability to reduce the amount of visceral fat in the body as shown by the increment of plasma adiponectin and improve blood glucose levels in obese rats.]]>Almonte, J., S. Harbarum, A. Richter and H. Dong,200352958963Arita, Y., S. Kihara, N. Ouchi, M. Takahashi and K. Maeda et al.,19992577983Berg, A.H., T.P. Combs and P.E. Scherer,2002138489Berger, J., M. Tanen, A. Elbrecht, A. Hermanowski-Vosatka, D.E. Moller, S.D. Wright and R. Thieringer,20012761262912635Chanwitheesuk, A., A. Teerawutgulrag and N. Rakariyatham,200592491497Chu, S.C., Y.C. Chou, J.Y. Liu, C.H. Chen, J.C. Shyu and F.P. Chou,19996422992306Comuzzie, A.G., T. Funahashi, G. Sonnenberg, L.J. Martin and H.J. Jacob et al.,20018643214325Greenberg, A.S. and M.L. McDaniel,2002322434Hara, K., P. Boutin, Y. Mori, K. Tobe and C. Dina, et al.,200251536540Havel, P.J.,2002135159Hotta, K., T. Funahashi, N.L. Bodkin, H.K. Ortmeyer, Y. Arita, B.C. Hansen and Y. Matsuzawa,20015011261126Kano, S. and M. Doi,200655151158Lindsay, R.S., T. Funahashi, R.L. Hanson, Y. Matsuzawa and S. Tanaka et al.,20023605758Masuzaki, H., J. Peterson, H. Shinyama, N.M. Morton, J.J. Mullins, J.R. Seckl and F.S. Flier,200129421662170Nadler, S.T., J.P. Stoehr, K.L. Schueler, G. Tanimoto, B.S. Yandell and A.D. Attie,200019971137111376Rahman, N.N.N.A., T. Furuta, S. Kojima, K. Takane and M.A. Mohd,199964249254Peungvicha, P., S.S. Thirawarapan, R. Temsiririrkkul, H. Watanabe, J.K. Prasain and S. Kodata,1998Piper sarmentosum in rats.]]>602732Ridtitid, W., W. Rattanaporn, P. Thaina, S. Chittrakarn and M. Sunbhanich,1998Piper sarmentosum leaves in the rat phrenic nerve-hemidiaphragm preparation.]]>61135142Stefan, N., B. Vozarova, T. Funahashi, Y. Matsuzawa and C. Weyer et al.,20025118841888Steppan, C.M. and M.A. Lazar,2002131823Tsao, T.S., H.F. Lodish and J. Fruebis,2002440213221Weyer, C., T. Funahashi, S. Tanaka, K. Hotta, Y. Matsuzawa, R.E. Pratley and P.A. Tataranni,20018619301935Al-Wahaibi, A.,20072007Rolland, Y.M., M.T. Haren, P. Patrick, W.A. Banks, T.K. Malmstrom, D.K. Miller and J.E. Morley,200712737