Piperine, an active principle from Piper nigrum, modulates hormonal and apo lipoprotein profiles in hyperlipidemic rats.
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of piperine, an alkaloid, on thyroid hormones and apolipoproteins in high-fat-diet (HFD) and antithyroid drug-induced hyperlipidemic rats.


METHODS
Male Wistar rats were first divided into two groups, control diet and high-fat diet (HFD) and then subdivided into four subgroups of ten animals each. The animals were treated with the following regimens for 10 weeks: 1% carboxymethyl cellulose; 10 mg carbimazole (CM)/kg body weight; 10 mg CM + 40 mg piperine/kg body weight, and 10 mg CM + 2 mg atorvastatin /ATV//kg body weight. Lipid profiles, hormone levels, and apolipoprotein levels were studied in all groups.


RESULTS
HFD and/or CM administration significantly elevated the plasma levels of total cholesterol, VLDL, LDL, triglycerides, free fatty acids, and phospholipids, but significantly reduced the HDL levels. Moreover, CM administration significantly reduced apo A-I levels and T3, T4 and testosterone levels while significantly elevating plasma apo B, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and insulin levels. The simultaneous administration of piperine and HFD significantly reduced plasma lipids and lipoproteins levels, except for HDL, which was significantly elevated. Piperine supplementation also improved the plasma levels of apo A-I, T3, T4, testosterone, and I and significantly reduced apo B, TSH, and insulin to near normal levels.


CONCLUSIONS
The data presented here provide evidence that piperine possesses thyrogenic activity, thus modulating apolipoprotein levels and insulin resistance in HFD-fed rats, opening a new view in the management of dyslipidemia by dietary supplementation with nutrients.
Vijayakumar
Ramasamy Subramanian
RS
Department ofBiochemistry and Biotechnology, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar-608 002, Tamilnadu, India.
Nalini
Namasivayamin
N
D000470:Alkaloids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001053:Apolipoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D052117:Benzodioxoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000494:pharmacology; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D031701:Piper / Q000737:chemistry*; D010880:Piperidines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood
D000470:Alkaloids; D001053:Apolipoproteins; D052117:Benzodioxoles; D004041:Dietary Fats; D006728:Hormones; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D008055:Lipids; D010880:Piperidines; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides; D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D013739:Testosterone; C008922:piperine