[Antidepressant-like effects of piperine and its neuroprotective mechanism].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the antidepressant effect of piperine and its neuroprotective mechanism.


METHODS
The behavioral studies were performed in forced swimming test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST). To further explore the mechanisms underlying their antidepressant-like activities, CORT-induced neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells and isolated and cultured neural progenitor cells. By using MTT assay, the effect of piperine on neural cells proliferation was observed.


RESULTS
The research results indicated that after a week of administration, piperine (10, 20 mg x kg(-1)) could significantly reduce the duration of immobility in both FST and TST. Piperine has the protective effect on neuroblastoma cells and increased proliferation of hippocampus neural progenitor cells.


CONCLUSIONS
In the present study, we demonstrated that the antidepressant-like effects of piperine and its mechanisms might be involved by up-regulation of the progenitor cell proliferation of hippocampus and cytoprotective activity.
Depertment of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacy, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China.
Hongbo
H
Liao
Ping
P
Liu
Yuan
Y
Hu
Dongxiao
D
Wang
Hui
H
Lin
D000470:Alkaloids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D052117:Benzodioxoles / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010880:Piperidines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011897:Random Allocation; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects
D000470:Alkaloids; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D052117:Benzodioxoles; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010880:Piperidines; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides; C008922:piperine