## 1 Introduction  
The \"rate-of-living hypothesis\" postulates that animals with high metabolic rates have short life spans [1]. This hypothesis suggests that reactive oxygen species (ROS) present at the cellular level induce damage in an organism, and that those ROS are intimately linked to aging [2]. Diverse evidence has shown that overproduction of ROS and impairment of enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidant systems disrupt homeostasis in living organisms [3]. Antioxidants are substances that have the capacity to prevent or reduce the damage caused by free radicals and unstable molecules that are generated during energy production or during reactions to environmental and other types of stresses in cells. Multiple studies have demonstrated that botanical extracts and their constituent compounds can act as superior antioxidants [4, 5]. Therefore, administration of antioxidants derived from natural materials such as plant sources may be an optimal strategy for preventing inflammatory diseases, thereby prolonging the longevity. Immun cells such as macrophages and neutrophils recognize pathogens such as infectious organisms, viruses, and bacteria via pattern recognition and they produce nitric oxide (NO) in order to eliminate these pathogens [6]. However, the overproduction of NO causes damage to the host tissues, thereby resulting in inflammation and progression of various diseases [7; 8]. Although NO has a critical role in the regulation of vascular homeostasis, neurotransmission, and inhibition of platelet aggregation, the abnormal expression of NO is generally considered to be a marker of inflammation [9]. Nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-\(\kappa\)B), a transcriptional factor, plays a critical role in inflammation by regulating the expression of genes involved in inflammation, including inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX-2), as well as inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1, tumor necrosis factor, and interleukin-6. Various compounds have been reported to exhibit anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting NF-\(\kappa\)B activity and the associated signaling pathways [10; 11]. Plants are a rich source of antioxidants, and herbs and spices are a primary source of natural antioxidants [12; 13]. Pepper (_Piper nigrum_ L.) has long been cultivated in India, Indonesia, Brazil, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka, and it has a high commercial value owing to its rich flavor and spiciness [14]. The dried fruit of the pepper varies in color and can be black, green, or white. Black pepper fruits are harvested when mature and dried in the sun. Green pepper fruits are harvested when unripe, 10-15 days before maturation, and they are processed to maintain the green color [15]. Pepper has physiological effects owing to its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, detoxifying, and anti-allergic properties [16; 17; 18; 19]. Piperine, the representative component of pepper, has various physiological activities including antitumor, antioxidant, and anti-epileptic effects [20; 21; 22]. Additionally, recent studies have shown that mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and activator protein (AP)-1 are strongly involved in inflammation via up-regulation of iNOS expression and nitrite production in RAW 264.7 cells [23; 24]. In this study, we aimed to investigate the protective properties of green pepper in oxidative and inflammatory stress. We found that green pepper has higher chlorophyll content, total flavonoids, total phenolic content, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and 2,2-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) radical scavenging activity than black pepper.