Piperine, an alkaloid in piper nigrum synergistically potentiates the hypoglycaemic effect of Coscinium fenestratum

Abstract

To examine the effects of piperine on lipid metabolism in white adipose tissue of high-fat diet induced obese mice, mice were divided into CON, HFD, HFD + Pip15, and HFD + Pip30 groups (n = 10 in each group). The mice in the latter two groups received 15 and 30 mg/kg body weight of piperine, respectively. Piperine decreased body and fat weights. Piperine treatments, especially 30 mg/kg, significantly reduced adipose cell size in SAT and VAT. mRNA expressions associated with adipose tissue expansion in the HFD + Pip30 group was significantly downregulated in SAT and VAT. For lipogenesis, piperine downregulated all of determined genes in VAT. For Lipolysis, only LPL mRNA in the HFD + Pip30 group was significantly upregulated in SAT. In VAT, 30 mg/kg piperine significantly increased lipolytic enzymes and upregulated their mRNA expressions. Piperine protects against obesity and regulates the lipogenic and lipolytic genes, which is more effective in visceral fat than in subcutaneous fat.