EXPLORING THE ANTIPSYCHOTIC EFFECTS OF PIPER LONGUM ETHANOLIC FRUIT EXTRACT IN A RODENT MODEL
Main Article Content
Keywords
Cook’s pole climbing apparatus, Piper longum, Wistar albino rats, TNF-α.
Abstract
This research explores the potential antipsychotic effects of the ethanolic extract derived from the fruits of Piper longum (EEPL) in Wistar albino rats, with a focus on its possible therapeutic application in neuropsychiatric conditions. To assess its efficacy, a series of well-established neurobehavioral tests were utilized, including Cook’s pole climbing apparatus, the Actophotometer, and the Open Field Test. These models are instrumental in evaluating conditioned behavior, spontaneous locomotion, and anxiety-related responses in rodents.
EEPL was administered orally at two dosage levels 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg—to analyze its dose-dependent pharmacological effects. The treated animals demonstrated significant shifts in locomotor behavior and pole climbing latency, which are recognized parameters in the assessment of antipsychotic activity. Notably, a reduction in latency time during pole climbing trials suggested improved behavioral responses, possibly due to alterations in central neurotransmitter regulation.
To delve deeper into the mode of action, both biochemical assays and tissue-level investigations were conducted. Immunohistochemical evaluation revealed a marked downregulation of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), an inflammatory cytokine often implicated in neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders. The suppression of this marker indicates potential anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties of EEPL.
Histological analysis of the brain and liver tissues further supported these findings. Neuronal architecture in EEPL-treated rats appeared intact, with negligible signs of degeneration, suggesting a neuroprotective effect. Additionally, hepatic tissue showed no pathological changes, reinforcing the extract's safety and non-toxic nature at the administered doses.
Collectively, the study provides compelling evidence that Piper longum fruit extract may possess bioactive components with significant antipsychotic and neuroprotective activities. The combination of behavioral enhancements, decreased inflammatory signaling, and maintained cellular structure points to its promise as a natural therapeutic candidate for treating neuropsychiatric and degenerative disorders. Further studies are warranted to isolate and characterize the active constituents, elucidate their interaction with neurochemical pathways, and expand the investigation through advanced preclinical and clinical trials.
References
2. Bukhari, I. A., Alhumayyd, M. S., Shahzad, M., & Gilani, A. H. (2013). The analgesic and anticonvulsant effects of piperine in mice. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 145(3), 807–813.
3. Harborne, J. B. (1998). Phytochemical methods: A guide to modern techniques of plant analysis. Springer Science & Business Media.
4. Johri, R. K., & Zutshi, U. (1992). An Ayurvedic formulation 'Trikatu' and its constituents. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 37(2), 85–91.
5. Leucht, S., Corves, C., Arbter, D., Engel, R. R., Li, C., & Davis, J. M. (2009). Second-generation versus first-generation antipsychotic drugs for schizophrenia: a meta-analysis. The Lancet, 373(9657), 31–41.
6. Müller, N., Weidinger, E., Leitner, B., & Schwarz, M. J. (2015). The role of inflammation in schizophrenia. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 9, 372.
7. Seeman, P. (2002). Atypical antipsychotics: mechanism of action. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 47(1), 27–38.
8. Sunila, E. S., & Kuttan, G. (2004). Immunomodulatory and antitumor activity of Piper longum Linn. and piperine. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 90(2-3), 339–346.
9. Tandon, R., Nasrallah, H. A., & Keshavan, M. S. (2008). Schizophrenia, “just the facts” what we know in 2008. 2. Epidemiology and etiology. Schizophrenia Research, 102(1-3), 1–18.
10. World Health Organization. (2001). Mental health: New understanding, new hope.
11. Kane, J. M., et al. (1988). Clozapine for the treatment-resistant schizophrenic. Archives of General Psychiatry, 45(9), 789–796.
12. Meltzer, H. Y. (1999). The role of serotonin in antipsychotic drug action. Neuropsychopharmacology, 21(2), 106S–115S.
13. Carlsson, A., & Lindqvist, M. (1963). Effect of chlorpromazine or haloperidol on formation of 3-methoxytyramine and normetanephrine in mouse brain. Acta Pharmacologica et Toxicologica, 20(2), 140–144.
14. Davidson, M. (2002). Risk of cardiovascular disease and sudden death in schizophrenia. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 63(suppl 9), 5–11.
15. Barnes, T. R. E. (2003). Schizophrenia. In Psychiatry (pp. 285–311). Oxford University Press.
16. Kumar, S., & Pandey, A. K. (2013). Chemistry and biological activities of flavonoids: an overview. The Scientific World Journal, 2013.
17. Bhatia, P., & Jain, A. (2013). Flavonoids and phenolic acids as antioxidants in plants. Journal of Plant Interactions, 8(3), 281–290.
18. Pandey, G. N. (1999). Biological basis of mood and anxiety disorders. Psychiatric Clinics, 22(2), 335–349.
19. Kessler, R. C., et al. (2005). Lifetime prevalence and age-of-onset distributions of DSM-IV disorders. Archives of General Psychiatry, 62(6), 593–602.
20. Kulkarni, S. K. (2005). Handbook of experimental pharmacology. Vallabh Prakashan.
21. Wagner, H. (1993). Search for plant-derived natural products with P-glycoprotein-modulating properties. Planta Medica, 59(S1), A688.
22. Farooqui, A. A., & Horrocks, L. A. (1998). Lipid peroxides in the free radical pathophysiology of brain diseases. Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology, 18(6), 599–608.
23. Patwardhan, B., Warude, D., Pushpangadan, P., & Bhatt, N. (2005). Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine: a comparative overview. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2(4), 465–473.
24. Bhutani, K. K. (2013). Herbal medicines and a possible solution. Indian Journal of Natural Products and Resources, 4(3), 229–238.
25. Tripathi, K. D. (2013). Essentials of medical pharmacology (7th ed.). Jaypee Brothers.
26. Remington, J. P. (2005). Remington: The science and practice of pharmacy. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
27. Singh, S., & Majumdar, D. K. (1997). Evaluation of anti-inflammatory activity of fatty acids of Ocimum sanctum fixed oil. Indian Journal of Experimental Biology, 35(4), 380–383.
28. Pan, R., Gao, X. H., Li, Y., Xia, Y. F., Dai, Y., & Wang, Y. (2011). Anti-inflammatory activity of piperine in human osteoarthritis chondrocytes. Arthritis Research & Therapy, 13(4), R100.
29. Grover, J. K., Yadav, S., & Vats, V. (2002). Medicinal plants of India with anti-diabetic potential. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 81(1), 81–100.
30. Shah, B. N., Seth, A. K., & Patel, M. B. (2011). Medicinal plants as a source of anti-inflammatory agents: a review. International Journal of Phytomedicine, 3(3), 222–233.
Article Sidebar
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
All articles published in JPTCP are licensed under Copyright Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Himanshu Joshi
M. Pharmacy Student, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Motherhood University, Dehradun Road, Karoundi village, Bhagwanpur post, Roorkee Tehsil, Haridwar Distt.
Kokkula Pavan Kumar
Associate Professor, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Motherhood University, Dehradun Road, Karoundi village, Bhagwanpur post, Roorkee Tehsil, Haridwar Distt., Uttarakhand, India 247661.
K. Ashok Kumar
Professor, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Motherhood University, Dehradun Road, Karoundi village, Bhagwanpur post, Roorkee Tehsil, Haridwar Distt., Uttarakhand, India 247661.