Attenuation of oxidative damage-associated hepatotoxicity by piperine in CCl₄-induced liver fibrosis

Objectives: The present research has demonstrated the impact of treatment with piperine on hepatic fibrosis induced by the administration of carbon tetrachloride. Methods: In order to study the outcome of piperine treatment on hepatic fibrosis caused by carbon tetrachloride administration in male Wistar rats, a total of 24 rats were collected and randomly classified into 4 separate groups each consisting of 6 animals. Group I was assigned as a control group and treated with olive oil for 4 weeks (1 ml/kg, i.p.) with two doses each week. Group II was designated as a toxic group and treated with carbon tetrachloride for 4 weeks (1 ml/kg, 1:1 combination with olive oil, i.p.) with two hepatic fibrosis induction doses each week. Group III was graded as a group I therapy and co-treated with carbon tetrachloride (1 ml/kg, 1:1 combination with olive oil, i.p.) for 4 weeks with two hepatic fibrosis induction doses a week and with piperine (25 mg/kg) for 4 weeks. Group IV was designated as group II therapy and co-treated with carbon tetrachloride (1 ml/kg, 1:1 combination of olive oil, i.p.) for 4 weeks with two hepatic fibrosis induction doses a week and piperine (50 mg/kg) for 4 weeks. Results: Piperine significantly reduced the carbon tetrachloride augmented activities of liver enzymes, lipid peroxidation, glutathione, hydroxyproline, nitrite, and carbonyl levels. Carbon tetrachloride enhanced Total cholesterol (TC), Triglyceride (TG), Low density lipoprotein (LDL), and Very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) levels, and decreased High density lipoprotein (HDL) level was restored to normal with piperine treatment. Moreover, piperine inhibited the over-expression of pro-inflammatory biomarkers and α-SMA. Conclusion: The data of the current study demonstrated piperine as a potent hepato-protective agent and recommends the use of piperine for preventing hepatic fibrosis.