Sains Malaysiana 55(1)(2026): 155-168

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2026-5501-12

 

Osteoinductive Potential of Non-Polar Piper sarmentosum Extract in a Stem Cell-Based Bone Regeneration Model

(Potensi Osteoinduktif Ekstrak Tidak-Berkutub Piper sarmentosum dalam Model Pembentukan Semula Tulang Berasaskan Sel Stem)

 

INTAN ZARINA ZAINOL ABIDIN1, ANIS NABILAH JOHARI2, MUHAMMAD DAIN YAZID3, ASMAH AWAL4,5, ZAIDAH ZAINAL ARIFFIN6 & SHAHRUL HISHAM ZAINAL ARIFFIN2,*

 

1Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Cyberjaya, 63000 Cyberjaya, Selangor, Malaysia

2Department of Biological Science and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

3Department of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Yaacob Latif, 56000 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

4Agricultural Biotechnology Research Group, Faculty of Plantation and Agrotechnology, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Jasin Campus, Merlimau 77300, Melaka, Malaysia

5Atta-ur-Rahman Institute for Natural Products Discovery (AuRIns), Level 9, FF3 Building, UiTM Kampus Puncak Alam, 42300 Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia

6Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia

 

Diserahkan: 17 September 2025/Diterima: 14 Januari 2026

 

Abstract

Piper sarmentosum (PS), a medicinal plant with pharmacological properties, has yet to be investigated for its potential in stem cell-based osteogenesis using non-polar extracts. This study investigated the osteoinductive potential of a hexane-based extract of PS on human peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs). PBSCs were cultured for 14 days and characterized using SLAMF1 and CD34 stem cell markers. PBSCs were treated with several concentrations of the PS hexane extract to induce osteoblast differentiation. Osteoblast differentiation was assessed through alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, mineralization assays, and osteoblast-specific gene expression profiling (ALP, RUNX2, OPN, OCN). Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis identified 13 non-polar bioactive compounds in the extract, with β-asarone and phytol as predominant constituents. The 1 μg/mL concentration of the extract demonstrated optimal osteogenic potential, as evidenced by ALP activity comparable to positive controls, increased mineral deposition, and upregulation of osteogenic genes. These findings suggest that non-polar compounds in PS extract, especially β-asarone and phytol, possess osteoinductive properties, offering a potential natural approach for bone regeneration applications via stem cell-mediated pathways.

Keywords: Bone regeneration; natural product; osteoblast differentiation; peripheral blood stem cells; Piper sarmentosum

 

Abstrak

Piper sarmentosum (PS) merupakan tumbuhan ubatan yang mempunyai ciri farmakologi. Walau bagaimanapun, potensi ekstrak tidak-berkutub PS melibatkan aruhan sel stem kepada osteogenesis masih belum dikaji. Oleh itu, penyelidikan ini adalah untuk menentukan potensi osteoinduktif ekstrak PS berasaskan pelarut heksana terhadap proses osteogenesis melibatkan sel stem darah periferi manusia (PBSC). PBSC telah dikulturkan selama 14 hari serta dicirikan menggunakan penanda sel stem SLAMF1 dan CD34. PBSC kemudiannya dirawat menggunakan beberapa kepekatan ekstrak heksana PS untuk mengaruh pembezaan osteoblas. Pembezaan osteoblas pula ditentukan melalui aktiviti alkali fosfatase (ALP), pemineralan dan profil pengekspresan gen yang khusus kepada osteoblas (ALP, RUNX2, OPN dan OCN). Analisis kromatografi gas-spektrometri jisim (GC-MS) pula telah mengenal pasti sebanyak 13 sebatian bioaktif tidak-berkutub dalam ekstrak PS denganβ-aseron dan fitol sebagai bahan utama. Kepekatan ekstrak pada 1 µg/mL telah menunjukkan potensi osteogen yang optimum, melalui aktiviti ALP yang setanding dengan kawalan positif, peningkatan pemendapan mineral dan peningkatan pengawalaturan gen osteogen. Penemuan ini mencadangkan bahawa sebatian tidak-berkutub yang terdapat di dalam ekstrak PS, terutamanyaβ-aseron dan fitol mempunyai ciri osteoinduktif. Ini menunjukkan pendekatan bahan semula jadi berpotensi untuk diaplikasikan dalam penjanaan semula tulang menggunakan sel stem.   

Kata kunci: Pembentukan-semula tulang; pembezaan osteoblas; Piper sarmentosum; produk semula jadi; sel stem darah periferi

 

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*Pengarang untuk surat-menyurat; email: hisham@ukm.edu.my

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

           

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