title: Effect of piperine on the inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) and TNF-alpha production.
abstract: Effect of piperine which is an alkaloid present in plants such as Piper nigrum and Piper longum on the production of nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) level was analyzed using in vitro as well as in vivo systems. The level of nitrite in the LPS stimulated Balb/C mice (95.3 microM) was reduced in the piperine treated animals (25 microM) significantly. Nitrite level in the Concanavalin-A (Con-A) treated control animals (83.1 microM) was also significantly reduced to 18.5 microM in the piperine treated mice. The drastically elevated levels of TNF-alpha in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated animals (625.8 pg/mL) was lowered in the piperine treated animals (105.8 pg/mL). Piperine also inhibited the Con-A induced TNF-alpha production. Piperine could inhibit the nitrite production by in vitro activated macrophages (116.25 microM) to the normal level (15.67 microM) at concentration of 5 microg/mL. In vitro L929 bioassay also revealed the inhibition of TNF-alpha production by the piperine treatment.
authors.affiliation: Amala Cancer Research Centre, Thrissur, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Pradeep
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kuttan
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D052117:Benzodioxoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002460:Cell Line; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D015536:Down-Regulation; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008262:Macrophage Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D010880:Piperidines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D052117:Benzodioxoles; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D010880:Piperidines; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D003208:Concanavalin A; D009569:Nitric Oxide; C008922:piperine