Piperine Improves Obesity By Repairing Intestinal Barrier Function And Inhibiting Fatty Acid Absorption

Background: Currently, the weight loss effects of piperine have gained considerable attention; however, the underlying mechanism needs to be comprehensively elucidated. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between the weight loss effects of piperine and intestinal function. Methods: Eight-week-old Sprague Dawley male rats were provided standard diet or HFD diet for 16 weeks. After, rats from the HFD group were divided into four group, including HFD, HFD with daily gavage with 2.7mg/kg body weight of piperine (PIP-L), 13.5mg/kg body weight of piperine (PIP-M), 27mg/kg body weight of piperine (PIP-H) for another 8 weeks. The fecal fat content, serum TG, FAA levels, jejunum structure and gene expression levels related to fatty acid absorption and barrier function in intestinal were detected. Then the Caco-2 cell was cultured to explore the effects of piperine on cell proliferation, differentiation, barrier function and fatty acid absorption. Results: In our study, piperine repaired the tight junction damage induced by obesity by downregulating jejunal tumor necrosis factor-α and reducing lipopolysaccharide-induced damage on intestinal cell proliferation, thus enhancing intestinal barrier function, which is beneficial in reducing chronic inflammation associated with obesity. In addition, piperine inhibited intestinal fatty acid absorption in both cellular and animal models. The underlying mechanism may be related to the downregulation of fatty acid absorption-related genes, fatty acid-binding protein 2 and cluster of differentiation 36, but not fatty acid transport protein 4. Conclusion: The anti-obesity effect of piperine is related to the enhancement of intestinal barrier function and inhibition of intestinal fatty acid absorption.