Evaluation of the Liver Protective Potential of Piperine, an Active Principle of Black and Long Peppers

Abstract

Piperine, an active alkaloidal constituent of the extract obtained from Piper longum and Piper nigrum, was evaluated for its antihepatotoxic potential in order to validate its use in traditional therapeutic formulations. This plant principle exerted a significant protection against tert-butyl hydroperoxide and carbon tetrachloride hepatotoxicity by reducing both in vitro and in vivo lipid peroxidation, enzymatic leakage of GPT and AP, and by preventing the depletion of GSH and total thiols in the intoxicated mice. Silymarin, a known hepatoprotective drug was tested simultaneously for comparison. Piperine showed a lower hepatoprotective potency than silymarin.

Herbal Cosmeceuticals for Photoprotection from Ultraviolet B Radiation: A Review

“…It consists of a spike of fruits forming a structure about 4 cm long and 6 mm in diameter. The fruit (pepper) contains 1 -2.5 % volatile oil, 5 -95 % of crystalline alkaloid piperine and piperettine, and a resin [19]. Piperine extracted from this plant has been used as an ingredient in Ayurvedic formulations because of its antioxidant potency both in vitro and in vivo in mice.…”

“…[20]. Piperine, due to this antioxidant property, is used topically in a cream base to treat sunburn diseases [21].…”

Preparation and Standardization of Poly-Herbal Formulation for Rheumatoid Arthritis

“…Curcumin, a natural compound present in the rhizomes of plant Curcuma longa, demonstrated its antiinflammatory action. [23] It is used in wound healing, hepatoprotection and neuroprotection etc. It has antimutagenic, antispasmodic, antimicrobial and anticancer activities.…”

Hepatoprotective Models and Various Natural Product Used in Hepatoprotective Agents: a Review

“…Piperine has been shown to exert a significant protection against liver toxicity induced by tert-butyl hydroperoxide and carbon tetrachloride by reducing both invitro and invivo lipid peroxidation by decreasing the reduction of GSH. [22,23] …”