Piperine ameliorates collagenase-induced Achilles tendon injury in the rat.
Tendinopathy is a common clinical pathology found in athletes and workers with mixed treatment results. Piperine, a major alkaloid found in the black and long pepper, has been demonstrated to have variety of pharmacological properties such as analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of piperine on collagenase-induced Achilles tendon injury. Rats were intratendineously injected with collagenase in the right Achilles tendon, followed by intragastrical administration of piperine (100 mg/kg). Morphological structure and biochemical analysis of glycosaminoglycans, hydroxyproline, collagen III, and the activity of matrix metallopeptidases in the tendon tissues were performed. Our results showed that collagenase injection resulted in clear degenerative changes in the tendon. Administration of piperine improved the morphological structure of tendon, increased glycosaminoglycans and hydroxyproline levels, and inhibited the expression and activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9. Furthermore, piperine inhibited the activation of ERK and p38 signaling pathways in injured tendon. These results indicate a beneficial role of piperine against collagenase-induced tendon injury.
a Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics , The First Hospital of Jilin University , Changchun , China.
Fengyan
F
Gong
a Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics , The First Hospital of Jilin University , Changchun , China.
Lifeng
L
Cui
b Department of Anesthesiology , The First Hospital of Jilin University , Changchun , China.
Xiaona
X
Zhang
c Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics , Qingyuan People's Hospital , Qingyuan , China.
Xiangbo
X
Zhan
d Department of Hand and Foot Surgery , The First Hospital of Jilin University , Changchun , China.
Xu
X
Gong
a Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics , The First Hospital of Jilin University , Changchun , China.
Yan
Y
Wen
D000125:Achilles Tendon / Q000293:injuries* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000470:Alkaloids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D052117:Benzodioxoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017364:Collagenases / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D010880:Piperidines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D000470:Alkaloids; D052117:Benzodioxoles; D010880:Piperidines; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides; D017364:Collagenases; C008922:piperine
Collagen; ERK; extracellular matrix; matrix metalloproteinase; tendinopathy