Piperine inhibits gastric emptying and gastrointestinal transit in rats and mice.

Piperine (1), an alkaloid of black and long peppers, inhibited gastric emptying (GE) of solids/liquids in rats and gastrointestinal transit (GT) in mice in a dose and time dependent manner. Compound 1 significantly inhibited GE of solids and GT at the doses extrapolated from humans (1 mg/kg and 1.3 mg/kg p.o. in rats and mice, respectively). However, at the same dose the effect was insignificant for GE of liquids. One week oral treatment of 1 mg/kg and 1.3 mg/kg in rats and mice, respectively, did not produce a significant change in activity as compared to single dose administration. GE inhibitory activity of 1 is independent of gastric acid and pepsin secretion.