Piper cubeba fruit extract has cytotoxic effect on normal cells

Piper cubeba or tailed pepper fruit is an antioxidant rich herbal source. So its effects on cancer cell types has been studied. In this study, its hydroalcoholic extract effect on human umbilical vein endothelial cell(HUVEC) as normal cells was examined. The cells were treated with increasing concentrations of extract of fruit for ۲۴ h to determine IC۵۰. Cell bio-viability was determined by MTT assay. Thereafter, the cells were treated with IC۵۰ concentration for ۳ and ۵ days. Cell morphology and apoptosis were examined by Giemsa and acridine orange-ethidium bromide (AO/EB) staining. IC۵۰ was determined. The extract reduced cell viability as a dose and time dependent manner significantly(P<۰.۰۵). It changed cell morphology. Apoptotic changes were observed in nuclei. It seems the hydroalcoholic extract of Piper cubeba fruit has cytotoxic effect on normal cells and induces apoptosis which should be considered as a side effect.

Keywords:

Piper cubeba , HUVEC , MTT , Viabilty , Apoptosis