title: 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.
authors.affiliation: Medical College, Tsinghua University, China.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Zhao-Hui
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Huan-Cong
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Zuo
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D052117:Benzodioxoles / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D029222:Piper nigrum / Q000737:chemistry*; D010880:Piperidines / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013569:Synapses / Q000187:drug effects; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D052117:Benzodioxoles; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010880:Piperidines; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D002118:Calcium; C008922:piperine