Piperine as Therapeutic Agent in Paracetamol-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Mice
Aline Meireles Coelho,
Isabela Ferreira Queiroz,
Luiza Oliveira Perucci,
Melina Oliveira de Souza,
Wanderson Geraldo Lima,
André Talvani,
Daniela Caldeira Costa
Affiliations
Aline Meireles Coelho
Department of Biological Sciences (DECBI), Institute of Exact and Biological Sciences, Federal University of Ouro Preto (UFOP), Ouro Preto 35400-000, Brazil
Isabela Ferreira Queiroz
Department of Biological Sciences (DECBI), Institute of Exact and Biological Sciences, Federal University of Ouro Preto (UFOP), Ouro Preto 35400-000, Brazil
Luiza Oliveira Perucci
Center for Research in Biological Sciences (NUPEB), Federal University of Ouro Preto (UFOP), Ouro Preto 35400-000, Brazil
Melina Oliveira de Souza
Department of Food (DEALI), School of Nutrition, Federal University of Ouro Preto (UFOP), Ouro Preto 35400-000, Brazil
Wanderson Geraldo Lima
Department of Biological Sciences (DECBI), Institute of Exact and Biological Sciences, Federal University of Ouro Preto (UFOP), Ouro Preto 35400-000, Brazil
André Talvani
Department of Biological Sciences (DECBI), Institute of Exact and Biological Sciences, Federal University of Ouro Preto (UFOP), Ouro Preto 35400-000, Brazil
Daniela Caldeira Costa
Department of Biological Sciences (DECBI), Institute of Exact and Biological Sciences, Federal University of Ouro Preto (UFOP), Ouro Preto 35400-000, Brazil
High doses of paracetamol (APAP) can cause irreversible liver damage. Piperine (P) inhibits cytochrome P450, which is involved in the metabolism of various xenobiotics, including paracetamol. We evaluated the hepatoprotective effects of piperine with or without N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in APAP-induced hepatotoxicity. The mice were treated with two doses of piperine (P20 or P40) and/or NAC at 2 h after administration of APAP. The NAC+P20 and NAC+P40 groups showed a reduced area of necrosis, MMP-9 activity, and Casp-1 expression. Furthermore, the NAC+P20 group was the only treatment that reduced alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and increased the levels of sulfhydryl groups (-SH). In the NAC+P40 group, NLRP-3 expression was reduced. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), and IL-1β expression decreased in the NAC, NAC+P20, and NAC+P40 groups compared to the APAP group. The liver necrosis area, TNF levels, carbonylated protein, and IL-18 expression decreased in the P40, NAC, NAC+P20, and NAC+P40 groups compared to the APAP group. The cytokine IL-6 was reduced in all treatments. Piperine can be used in combination with NAC to treat APAP-induced hepatotoxicity.
