Article

Evaluation of Analgesic, Anti‑Inflammatory, and Antipyretic Activity of Piperine: An Experimental Study

Nikhil Dhargawe1, Sunil Mahakalkar1★, Bhagyashree Mohod1, Jeffrey Pradeep Raj2★ Corresponding author

  1. 1Department of Pharmacology, Government Medical College, Nagpur, Maharashtra, INDIA.
  2. 2Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Seth GS Medical College and KEM Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, INDIA.

CORRESPONDENCE

Sunil Mahakalkar

Department of Pharmacology, Government Medical College, Nagpur, Maharashtra, INDIA.

drsunil_mm@rediffmail.com

Volume 12, Issue 2 · pp. 176–180 · PUBLISHED · DOI: 10.4103/pr.pr_94_19

View on PR original site ↗

ABSTRACT

Background: Narcotics (e.g., opioids) or non-narcotics (e.g., salicylates and corticosteroids) are used in the management of pain and inflammation, both of which have side effects, thereby emphasizing the search for natural substances. Piperine found naturally in plants of thePiperaceae family has shown inhibitory activity against 5‑lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase‑1 in in vitrostudies. Objectives: To evaluate the analgesic, anti‑inflammatory, and antipyretic activity of piperine in comparison to aspirin. Materials and Methods:Albino Wistar rats of either sex weighing 180–200 g and Swiss mice weighing 25–30 g were used. The tail‑flick method and hot plate method in rats and acetic acid‑induced writhing method in mice were used for the evaluation of analgesic activity. The carrageenan‑induced paw edema method, cotton pellet‑induced granuloma method, and formalin‑induced arthritis method were used for the evaluation of anti‑inflammatory activity. Baker’s yeast‑induced pyrexia model was used to evaluate antipyretic activity. Results:Piperine showed significant analgesic effect of 40%–55% in tail‑flick method, 58% in hot plate method, and 54% in acetic acid‑induced writhing model, when compared to negative controls. The percentage inhibition of inflammation, in comparison to controls, was significant at 56% for carrageenan‑induced paw edema model and 40% for formalin‑induced arthritis model. In the cotton pellet‑induced granuloma model, however, it was only 10%. In the yeast model of pyrexia, piperine significantly reduced rectal temperature at 4 h. However, aspirin had better effect than piperine in all these models.Conclusion: Piperine exhibits significant analgesic, anti‑inflammatory, and antipyretic activity though not comparable to aspirin.

KEYWORDS

Open in new tab

REFERENCES

As published

Showing references and in-text citations exactly as published.

    Cite this article

    SELECT FORMAT

    Dhargawe, N., Mahakalkar, S., Mohod, B., & Raj, J. P. (). Evaluation of Analgesic, Anti‑Inflammatory, and Antipyretic Activity of Piperine: An Experimental Study. Pharmacognosy Research, 12(2), 176–180. https://doi.org/10.4103/pr.pr_94_19