Piperine has anti-tumor effects in breast cancer by inducing mitochondrial apoptosis pathway

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is the second leading cause of death due to cancer among women worldwide. Therefore, the present study investigates the cytotoxic effects of piperine on the breast cancer cell line (MCF۷) and the genes of the apoptotic pathway.  Objectives: This research was performed to assess the effect of piperine on BC cells and the change in the expression level of bax gene through the induction of apoptosis. Methods: MCF-۷ cells were prepared by the Pasteur Institute, Iran. Cytotoxicity of piperine at concentrations of (۵, ۱۰, ۱۵, ۲۰, and ۲۵ µM) during ۲۴, ۴۸, and ۷۲ hours was evaluated by MTT assay. The cell apoptosis and bax gene expression were evaluated by Flow Cytometry and qReal-time PCR, respectively. Finally, the statistical analysis of MTT and RT- PCR data was done by SPSS software version ۲۲.  Results: The piperine showed concentration-dependent cytotoxic effects on the MCF-۷ cell line in MTT assay. The bax gene expression level has a significant increase in piperine-treated cells compared to the untreated ones. The MCF-۷ cell apoptosis at IC۵۰ concentration of piperine was measured at ۵۸.۳% during ۴۸-h treatment.  Conclusions: In general, it can be concluded that piperine has cytotoxic effects against breast cancer by inducing apoptosis via overexpressing of bax.

Keywords:

Piperine , Breast cancer , Apoptosis , MTT assay , Flow Cytometry.