Neuroprotective Effect of Piperine on Primarily Cultured Hippocampal Neurons

Abstract

It was previously reported that piperine (PIP) significantly blocks convulsions induced by intracerebroventricular injection of threshold doses of kainate, but had no or only slight effects on convulsions induced by L-glutamate, N-methyl-D-aspartate and guanidinosuccinate. In traditional Chinese medicine, black pepper has been used for epileptic treatment; however, the exact mechanism is still unclear. We reported here in that appropriate concentration of PIP effectively inhibites the synchronized oscillation of intracellular calcium in rat hippocampal neuronal networks and represses spontaneous synaptic activities in terms of spontaneous synaptic currents (SSC) and spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents (sEPSC). Moreover, pretreatment with PIP expects protective effect on glutamate-induced decrease of cell viability and apoptosis of hippocampal neurons. These data suggest that the neuroprotective effects of PIP might be associated with suppression of synchronization of neuronal networks, presynaptic glutamic acid release, and Ca 2؉ overloading.

Anticonvulsant mechanisms of piperine, a piperidine alkaloid

“…Ca 2C channel modulatory effects of piperine have previously been reported in in-vitro studies using rat hippocampal neurons. 15 but in our present study, piperine only poorly blocked L-type channels in patch clamp experiments. It is possible that piperine allosterically reduces the affinity of BAYK-8644 for L-type calcium channels, thus accounting for the discrepancy between the in-vitro and in-vivo effects.…”

Piperine exerts anti-seizure effects via the TRPV1 receptor in mice

“…It has been reported that piperine effectively inhibits the synchronized oscillation of intracellular calcium in rat hippocampal neuronal networks and represses spontaneous synaptic activities in terms of spontaneous synaptic currents (SSC) and spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents (sEPSC). Moreover, in hippocampal neurons, pretreatment with piperine exerts a protective effect on the glutamate-induced decrease in cell viability and apoptosis (Fu et al, 2010). We also found that piperine inhibited Fos expression in hippocampus and suggested that the anti-seizure effects of piperine might be associated with suppression of synchronization of neuronal networks of the hippocampus.…”

Quantitative Structure–Cytotoxicity Relationship of Newly Synthesized Piperic Acid Esters

“…On the other hand, piperine protected normal cells from apoptosis induced by cadmium (14), cisplatin (15) and glutamate (16). However, as far as we know only one article has performed the rigorous antitumor investigation with appropriate normal cells from the same tissues or same type of cells (epithelial or mesenchymal) (11).…”