Treatment of intestinal inflammation with piperine, a dietary phytochemical with immune-modulating activity

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) currently afflicts about 1 in every 200 Canadians. For the most part, IBD is treated with drugs that inhibit inflammation or suppress the immune system. Unfortunately, undesirable side effects are associated with all current IBD treatments. A need therefore exists for novel therapies that are less toxic and equally or more effective, as well as less expensive than current drugs used in the treatment of IBD. In this regard, a number of compounds identified from fruits and vegetables are able to potently inhibit inflammation. Piperine is one such compound. In this study, we will use a mouse model of colitis to determine whether oral administration of piperine protects against the development of intestinal inflammation by interfering with the inflammation-promoting activities of a type of innate immune cell called a dendritic cell, which is involved in initiating the process of inflammation, and T lymphocytes, which are involved in maintaining chronic inflammation. This work will determine whether piperine has the potential to be used in the treatment of IBD. Preventing or reducing episodes of intestinal inflammation by the simple oral administration of nontoxic and inexpensive piperine would be of obvious benefit to those Canadians who suffer from IBD.