Reversible Testicular Toxicity of Piperine on Male Albino Rats

An Overview of the Spices Used for the Prevention and Potential Treatment of Gastric Cancer

Gastric cancer (GC) ranks third in terms of cancer-related deaths and is the fifth most commonly diagnosed type of cancer. Its risk factors include Helicobacter pylori infection, Epstein-Barr virus infection, the consumption of broiled and charbroiled animal meats, salt-preserved and smoke-enhanced foods, alcohol drinking, tobacco smoking, exposure to ionizing radiation, and positive family history. The limited effectiveness of conventional therapies and the widespread risk factors of GC encourage the search for new methods of treatment and prevention. In the quest for cheap and commonly available medications, numerous studies focus on herbal medicine, traditional brews, and spices. In this review, we outline the potential use of spices, including turmeric, ginger, garlic, black cumin, chili pepper, saffron, black pepper, rosemary, galangal, coriander, wasabi, cinnamon, oregano, cardamom, fenugreek, caraway, clove, dill, thyme, Piper sarmentosum, basil, as well as the compounds they contain, in the prevention and treatment of GC. We present the potential molecular mechanisms responsible for the effectivity of a given seasoning substance and their impact on GC cells. We discuss their potential effects on proliferation, apoptosis, and migration. For most of the spices discussed, we also outline the unavailability and side effects of their use.

Piperine attenuates the inflammation, oxidative stress, and pyroptosis to facilitate recovery from spinal cord injury via autophagy enhancement

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a serious injury that can lead to irreversible motor dysfunction. Due to its complicated pathogenic mechanism, there are no effective drug treatments. Piperine, a natural active alkaloid extracted from black pepper, has been reported to influence neurogenesis and exert a neuroprotective effect in traumatic brain injury. The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effect of piperine in an SCI model. SCI was induced in mice by clamping the spinal cord with a vascular clip for 1 min. Before SCI and every 2 days post-SCI, evaluations using the Basso mouse scale and inclined plane tests were performed. On day 28 after SCI, footprint analyses, and HE/Masson staining of tissues were performed. On a postoperative Day 3, the spinal cord was harvested to assess the levels of pyroptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS), inflammation, and autophagy. Piperine enhanced functional recovery after SCI. Additionally, piperine reduced inflammation, oxidative stress, pyroptosis, and activated autophagy. However, the effects of piperine on functional recovery after SCI were reversed by autophagy inhibition. The study demonstrated that piperine facilitated functional recovery after SCI by inhibiting inflammatory, oxidative stress, and pyroptosis, mediated by the activation of autophagy.

The attenuation effect of low piperine Piper nigrum extract on doxorubicin-induced toxicity of blood chemical and immunological properties in mammary tumour rats

CONTEXT

Many natural extracts have been shown to minimize the toxicity of doxorubicin (Dox). Low piperine Piper nigrum L. (Piperaceae) extract (PFPE) is a natural extract containing many types of antioxidants that may reduce Dox toxicities.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of PFPE in attenuating the side effects of Dox.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Tumour-bearing Sprague Dawley rats were divided into five groups including normal, vehicle, 100 mg/kg BW of PFPE plus 2 mg/kg BW of Dox (P100 + Dox), 100 mg/kg BW of PFPE plus 2 mg/kg BW of Dox (P200 + Dox) and Dox. Rats were treated with Dox and/or PFPE three times/week for 4 weeks. Tumour burden, blood parameters, weight of internal organs and immunological data were investigated.

RESULTS

The addition of 200 mg/kg PFPE significantly restored the levels of AST from 174.60 ± 45.67 U/L in the Dox group near to normal levels at 109.80 ± 4.99 U/L. The combination of PFPE and Dox also decreased the levels of CXCL7, TIMP-1, sICAM-1 and l-selectin about 1.4-1.6-fold compared to Dox group. Feeding rats with 200 mg/kg BW of PFPE combination with Dox slightly increased Th1 from 161.67 ± 14.28 cells in Dox group to 200.75 ± 5.8 cells meanwhile suppressed Treg from 3088 ± 78 cells in Dox to 2561 ± 71 cells.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

This study showed that PFPE ameliorated Dox toxicity in many aspects indicating the role of antioxidant and other substances in the extract on toxicity attenuation. This suggested the using of PFPE may be valuable for Dox treated patients.

Anticancer Applications and Pharmacological Properties of Piperidine and Piperine: A Comprehensive Review on Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Perspectives

Piperine and piperidine are the two major alkaloids extracted from black pepper (Piper nigrum); piperidine is a heterocyclic moiety that has the molecular formula (CH₂)₅NH. Over the years, many therapeutic properties including anticancer potential of these two compounds have been observed. Piperine has therapeutic potential against cancers such as breast cancer, ovarian cancer, gastric cancer, gliomal cancer, lung cancer, oral squamous, chronic pancreatitis, prostate cancer, rectal cancer, cervical cancer, and leukemia. Whereas, piperidine acts as a potential clinical agent against cancers, such as breast cancer, prostate cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer, and ovarian cancer, when treated alone or in combination with some novel drugs. Several crucial signalling pathways essential for the establishment of cancers such as STAT-3, NF-κB, PI3k/Aκt, JNK/p38-MAPK, TGF-ß/SMAD, Smac/DIABLO, p-IκB etc., are regulated by these two phytochemicals. Both of these phytochemicals lead to inhibition of cell migration and help in cell cycle arrest to inhibit survivability of cancer cells. The current review highlights the pharmaceutical relevance of both piperine and piperidine against different types of cancers.

Natural Products with Potential for Nonhormonal Male Contraception

Despite increased access to contraception over the last 60 years, unplanned pregnancies continue to contribute to economic disparities and overpopulation. Additionally, the burden of family planning falls primarily on women, as a reliable pharmaceutical male contraceptive has yet to be developed. The objective of this literature-based systematic review was to identify compounds for future study from natural sources with potential nonhormonal male contraceptive activity. After the exclusion of extracts and compounds with known hormonal mechanisms, 26 unique compounds were identified from natural species. The plant source, compound class, structure, target, mechanism of action, safety/toxicity profile, and in vitro, in vivo, and human studies for each compound were evaluated and discussed. β-Caryophyllene, embelin, oleanolic acid, triptonide, and N-butyldeoxynojirimycin (NB-DNJ) were selected as the five most promising compounds for future study using prespecified criteria such as number of studies, efficacy and safety profile, reversibility, and previous use in humans for any indication. In order to move forward with development of a male contraceptive from a natural source, additional studies are needed to determine the predicted safety and efficacy for in vivo and human clinical trials.

Safety Aspects of the Use of Isolated Piperine Ingested as a Bolus

Piperine is a natural ingredient of Piper nigrum (black pepper) and some other Piper species. Compared to the use of pepper for food seasoning, piperine is used in food supplements in an isolated, concentrated form and ingested as a bolus. The present review focuses on the assessment of the possible critical health effects regarding the use of isolated piperine as a single ingredient in food supplements. In human and animal studies with single or short-term bolus application of isolated piperine, interactions with several drugs, in most cases resulting in increased drug bioavailability, were observed. Depending on the drug and extent of the interaction, such interactions may carry the risk of unintended deleteriously increased or adverse drug effects. Animal studies with higher daily piperine bolus doses than in human interaction studies provide indications of disturbance of spermatogenesis and of maternal reproductive and embryotoxic effects. Although the available human studies rarely reported effects that were regarded as being adverse, their suitability for detailed risk assessment is limited due to an insufficient focus on safety parameters apart from drug interactions, as well as due to the lack of investigation of the potentially adverse effects observed in animal studies and/or combined administration of piperine with other substances. Taken together, it appears advisable to consider the potential health risks related to intake of isolated piperine in bolus form, e.g., when using certain food supplements.

Effects of monosodium glutamate on testicular structural and functional alterations induced by quinine therapy in rat: An experimental study

BACKGROUND

Quinine (QU) as an anti-malarial drug induces alterations in testicular tissue. Toxic effects of monosodium glutamate (MSG) on the male reproductive system have been recognized.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the impact of MSG administration on the intensity of gonadotoxicity of QU.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sixty eight-wk old Wistar rats weighing 180-200 gr were divided into six groups (n = 10/each): the first group as a control; the second and third groups received low and high doses of MSG (2 & 4 gr/kg i.p.), respectively, for 28 days; the fourth group received QU for seven days (25 mg/kg); and in the fifth and sixth groups, QU was gavaged following the MSG administration (MSG + QU) from day 22 to day 28. Serum testosterone and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured. Testes samples were prepared for tissue MDA levels, histomorphometry, and immunohistochemistry of p53. Sperm analysis was performed on cauda epididymis.

RESULTS

Serum and tissue MDA levels were increased in treated groups compared to the control group. This increment was higher in the MSG + QU groups. The testosterone levels were reduced significantly (p < 0.0001) in all treated groups. In addition, histomorphometric indices and tubular epithelium population were reduced significantly (p < 0.0001) in QU, MSG + QU, and consequently in high-dose MSG, QU, MSG + QU groups. All spermatogenic indices were reduced in the treated groups, particularly in the MSG + QU groups. Sperm motility and viability indices were reduced significantly (p = 0.003) in the MSG + QU groups. Finally, the overexpression of p53 was observed in the MSG + QU groups.

CONCLUSION

The administration of MSG before and during QU therapy may intensify testicular tissue alterations.

Testis Toxicants: Lesson from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

The testis is one of the organs in the mammalian body that is sensitive to toxicants. Accumulating evidence has shown that human exposure to toxic ingredients in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), such as triptolide, gossypol, cannabidol, piperine, α-solanine, matrine, aristolochic acid, and emodin, lead to testis injury and reproductive dysfunction. The most obvious phenotype is reduced sperm counts due to defects in spermatogenesis. Studies have also shown that Sertoli cells in the seminiferous tubule, the functional unit of the testis that supports spermatogenesis, are the cell type that is most sensitive to the disruptive effects of toxicants. Since Sertoli cells are the "mother cells" that nurture germ cell development, Sertoli cell injury thus leads to failure in germ cell development in the seminiferous epithelium. Mounting evidence has shown that the Sertoli cell cytoskeletons, mitochondria function, Leydig cells steroidogenesis pathways and sperm ion channels are some of the prime targets of toxicants from TCM. We carefully evaluate recent findings in this area of research herein, and to provide a summary of these findings, including some insightful information regarding the underlying molecular basis of toxicant-induced testis injury that impede spermatogenesis.

Plant-Derived Alkaloids: The Promising Disease-Modifying Agents for Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) represents a group of intestinal disorders with self-destructive and chronic inflammation in the digestive tract, requiring long-term medications. However, as many side effects and drug resistance are frequently encountered, safer and more effective agents for IBD treatment are urgently needed. Over the past few decades, a variety of natural alkaloids made of plants or medicinal herbs have attracted considerable interest because of the excellent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties; additionally, these alkaloids have been reported to reduce the colonic inflammation and damage in a range of colitic models. In this review paper, we summarize the recent findings regarding the anti-colitis activity of plant-derived alkaloids and emphasize their therapeutic potential for the treatment of IBD; obvious improvement of the colonic oxidative and pro-inflammatory status, significant preservation of the epithelial barrier function and positive modulation of the gut microbiota are the underlying mechanisms for the plant-derived alkaloids to treat IBD. Further clinical trials and preclinical studies to unravel the molecular mechanism are essential to promote the clinical translation of plant-derived alkaloids for IBD.

Diverged Effects of Piperine on Testicular Development: Stimulating Leydig Cell Development but Inhibiting Spermatogenesis in Rats

Background: Piperine is the primary pungent alkaloid isolated from the fruit of black peppercorns. Piperine is used frequently in dietary supplements and traditional medicines. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of piperine on the testis development in the pubertal rat.

Methods: Piperine (0 or 5 or 10 mg/kg) was gavaged to 35-day-old male Sprague-Dawley rats for 30 days. Serum levels of testosterone (T), luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) were measured. The development of adult Leydig cell population was also analyzed 65 days postpartum. For in vitro studies, immature Leydig cells were isolated from 35-day-old male rats and treated with 50 μM piperine in the presence of different steroidogenic stimulators/substrates for 24 h.

Results: Thirty-day treatment of rats with piperine significantly increased serum T levels without affecting LH concentrations. However, piperine treatment reduced serum FSH levels. Consistent with increase in serum T, piperine increased Leydig cell number, cell size, and multiple steroidogenic pathway proteins, including steroidogenic acute regulatory protein, cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme, 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1, 17α-hydroxylase/20-lyase, and steroidogenic factor 1 expression levels. Piperine significantly increased the ratio of phospho-AKT1 (pAKT1)/AKT1, phosphos-AKT2 (pAKT2)/AKT2, and phospho-ERK1/2 (pERK1/2)/ERK1/2 in the testis. Interestingly, piperine inhibited spermatogenesis. Piperine in vitro also increased androgen production and stimulated cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme and 17α-hydroxylase/20-lyase activities in immature Leydig cells.

Conclusion: Piperine stimulates pubertal Leydig cell development by increasing Leydig cell number and promoting its maturation while it inhibits spermatogenesis in the rat. ERK1/2 and AKT pathways may involve in the piperine-mediated stimulation of Leydig cell development.