Comparative Study of Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Piperine with Hydrocortisone in Albino Rats

Since antiquity piperine has been widely used in Indian traditional medicine. Piperine is an alkaloid isolated from the fruit of Black pepper. To compare the anti-inflammatory property of Piperine with standard as hydrocortisone against Carrageenan induced paw edema model in albino rats. After approval from Institutional Animal Ethics Committee, albino rats of either sex (Wt. 150-250 gms) were divided into 3 groups with 6 animals in each. Acute inflammation was produced by sub-plantar injection of 0.1 ml of 1% freshly prepared Carrageenan in normal saline in right hind paw of rats. Control groups were treated with normal saline, Test groups with Ethanolic root extract of Piperine (10 mg/kg p.o.), Standard groups with hydrocortisone (40mg s.c.) one hour before carrageenan injection. The paw volume was measured plethysmometrically at an interval of 1, 2, 3, 6 hrs after carrageenan injection. Mean paw volume increase in ml (Mean + SE) and % inhibition of paw swelling was evaluated and analyzed statistically. Mean + SE and % inhibition of paw swelling are as follows: Piperine 0.325+0.012, 57.23%; hydrocortisone 0.285+0.009, 65.3% after 3 hrs respectively. p<0.05 is significant for Piperine as compare to control group. Piperine exhibit potent acute anti-inflammatory activity comparable to hydrocortisone.