Preclinical Evaluation of Neuroprotective Activity of Piper nigrum L. in Cerebral Ischemic Reperfusion Induced Oxidative Stress

Abstract

Introduction: Stroke is a potentially fatal condition that is defined by the fast development of clinical symptoms of ischemia. Numerous flavonoids have been demonstrated in animal models to ameliorate brain ischemia-reperfusion damage. Piperine is a flavonoid derived from Piper nigrum L. that exhibits a variety of pharmacological effects. The purpose of this research was to determine if Piper nigrum L. has a protective effect against the brain damage caused by bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO) in rats. Materials and Methods: The animal study was certified by Institutional Animal Ethics Committee (IAEC) under research project no. RKCP/COI/RP/12/28. Numerous parameters were evaluated to ascertain the extent of oxidative stress and eventual protection of Piper nigrumL. including glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), lipid peroxidation (LPO), brain protein, and calcium levels in brain homogenate. The preventive effect of P. nigrum was evaluated and compared with quercetin as a standard using histopathology and the region of cerebral infarction. Results: In our research, we observed a substantial rise in superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione, and brain protein levels and a fall in lipid peroxidation and calcium levels in the P. nigrum and quercetin treated groups with the level of significance (p value) less than 0.05, confirming the protective effect against brain injury. Additionally, P. nigrum was shown to provide less protection compared to quercetin. Conclusion: As a result of these data, we hypothesise that P. nigrummay have a considerable neuroprotective effect in the brain against ischemic/ reperfusion-induced oxidative damage.