Effect of piperine,amajor component of black pepper,on the pharmacokinetics of domperidone in rats

The present study was aimed to investigate the effect of piperine,a major active ingredient of black pepper,on the pharmacokinetics of domperidone in rats. animals were given oral (p.o.) or intraperitoneal (i.p.) domperidone (20 mg/kg) alone or together with piperine (20 mg/kg,p.o.). plasma samples were collected at 0.25,0.5,1.0,2.0,3.0,4.0,6.0,8.0,10.0 and 12 hours after drug administration. the concentration of domperidone in the plasma was measured using a hplc method. the concomitant administration of piperine with oral or intraperitoneal domperidone resulted in a significant (p<0.05) increase in the maximum plasma concentration (cmax),the mean area under the plasma concentration-time curve (auc),and the elimination half-life (t1/2) of domperidone as compared to those obtained for domperidone alone. these results suggest that an important pharmacokinetic interaction may occur if piperine is administered concurrently with domperidone. © 2014,polish physiological society. all rights reserved.