The Effect of Black Pepper (Piper nigrum) Extract on Lipid Profile in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the hypolipidemic effect of black pepper (Piper nigrum) aqueous extract on lipid profile parameters in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Methods: Eighteen adult male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to three groups: a control group, a diabetic group induced by STZ, and a diabetic group treated with black pepper extract (50 mg/kg/day) for 30 days. Total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels were measured using ELISA. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA with Tukey's post hoc test and effect size estimation. Results: The diabetic group exhibited significantly elevated levels of TC, TG, and LDL compared to the control. Treatment with black pepper extract led to marked reductions in these lipid parameters, restoring levels to near-normal values. The changes were statistically significant (p < 0.001) with large effect sizes, indicating robust treatment efficacy. HDL levels showed modest variations without significant clinical concern. Conclusion: Black pepper extract demonstrates significant lipid-lowering effects in diabetic rats, particularly in reducing TC, TG, and LDL levels. These findings suggest its potential as a natural therapeutic agent for managing diabetes-induced dyslipidemia.