RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus is the most rampant metabolic pandemic of the 21(st) century. Piperine, the chief alkaloid of Piper nigrum (black pepper) is widely used in alternative and complementary therapies has been extensively studied for its bio-enhancing property. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the bio-enhancing effect of piperine with metformin in lowering blood glucose levels in alloxan-induced diabetic mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Piperine was isolated from an extract of fruits of P. nigrum. Alloxan-induced (150 mg/kg intraperitoneal) diabetic mice were divided into four groups. Group I (control 2% gum acacia 2 g/100 mL), Group II (metformin 250 mg/kg), Group III (metformin and piperine 250 mg/kg + 10 mg/kg), and Group IV (metformin and piperine 125 mg/kg + 10 mg/kg). All the drugs were administered orally once daily for 28 days. Blood glucose levels were estimated at day 0, day 14, and end of the study (day 28). RESULTS: The combination of piperine with therapeutic dose of metformin (10 mg/kg + 250 mg/kg) showed significantly more lowering of blood glucose level as compared to metformin alone on both 14(th) and 28(th) day (P < 0.05). Piperine in combination with sub-therapeutic dose of metformin (10 mg/kg + 125 mg/kg) showed significantly more lowering of blood glucose as compared to control group and also showed greater lowering of blood glucose as compared to metformin (250 mg/kg) alone. CONCLUSION: Piperine has the potential to be used as a bio-enhancing agent in combination with metformin which can help reduce the dose of metformin and its adverse effects. SUMMARY: Piperine is known for its bioenhancing property. This study evaluates the effect of piperine in combination with oral antidiabetic drug metformin. Drugs were administered for 28 days in alloxan induced diabetic mice and blood glucose lowering effect was seen. Results showed significantly better effect of combination of piperine with therapeutic dose of metformin in comparison to metformin alone. Piperine in combination with subtherapeutic dose of metformin also showed better effect than therapeutic dose of metformin. Piperine, thus shows potential to be used as bioenhancer in combination with metformin.
RESUMO
Despite significant improvements in medical and surgical management, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) or multiple organ failure following conditions such as acute pancreatitis, severe sepsis, and traumatic, hemorrhagic, and endotoxin shocks is still accompanied with a high mortality rate. In light of the crucial role of immunologic derangement recently conceptualized in these conditions, ulinastatin, a urinary trypsin inhibitor, is considered as a potentially beneficial immunomodulator drug for MODS. Mechanisms involving protections against tissue organs and endothelial cell and anti-inflammatory effects by ulinastatin are dependent on the inhibition of polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN)-derived elastase, tumor necrosis factor α, and other pro-inflammatory cytokines and interleukins (IL-1, IL-6, and IL-8). Ulinastatin also suppresses the activation of PMN cells, macrophages, and platelets. Derived from these properties, ulinastatin has been investigated as a potential clinical therapy for indications including shock and pancreatitis and approved in Japan and China with ongoing clinical trials around the globe. Off-label potential uses of ulinastatin have been reported in preterm labor and hematological, hepatic, renal, and cardiovascular diseases including vasculitis syndromes such as Kawasaki disease.
