Drug-Piperaceae Herb Interaction Potency Through Analgesic, Anxiolytic, and Anti-Inflammatory Activity Studies

Abstract

Integrative therapy by combining conventional with herbal medicines is one of the choices for the community. However, there are opportunities for potential drug-herb interactions. Piperine, the primary alkaloid in the Piperaceae family, has been shown to change the pharmacokinetic profile of drugs and influence drug pharmacodynamics. This study aimed to determine the potential interactions between the combination of Piperaceae herb extract and conventional drugs based on their pharmacological activity in vivo. Black and Javanese long pepper extracts were prepared using the maceration method in ethanol. Then, the piperine level was determined using the TLC-densitometric method. Potential interactions were investigated through in vivo analgesic, anxiolytic, and anti-inflammatory activity studies. Piperine content in black and Javanese long pepper extract was 20.46% and 15.65%, respectively. Conventional drugs consumed with piperine or Piperaceae herbal extracts showed an increase in the latency time of mice on a hot-cold plate but a decrease in mice's survival time on the rotarod and oedema volume compared to single drug administration at various times. All combined treatments also enhance the percentage of analgesic (21.73% to 25.60%), anxiolytic (65% to ≥80%), and inflammation inhibitory (14.81% to ≥51.85%) activities of drugs. It concluded that piperine in black pepper or Javanese long pepper extracts has the potency to interact with drugs, especially with diclofenac sodium, alprazolam, and dexamethasone, based on the enhancement of their activity. Thus, further research is needed to determine its toxicity and pharmacokinetic profile to ensure the safety of these drug interactions.