Piper nigrum Extract: Dietary Supplement for Reducing Mammary Tumor Incidence and Chemotherapy-Induced Toxicity

Abstract

A low piperine fractional Piper nigrum extract (PFPE) was prepared by mixing cold-pressed coconut oil and honey in distilled water, namely, PFPE-CH. In this study, PFPE-CH was orally administered as a dietary supplement to decrease the risk of tumor formation and reduce the side effects of chemotherapeutic drugs during breast cancer treatment. The toxicity study demonstrated no mortality or adverse effects after administrating PFPE-CH at 5000 mg/kg during a 14-day observation period. Additionally, PFPE-CH at 86 mg/kg BW/day did not cause any harm to the kidney or liver function of the rats for six months. In a cancer prevention study, treatment with PFPE-CH at 100 mg/kg BW for 101 days induced oxidative stress and increased the immune response by altering the levels of cancer-associated cytokines (IL-4, IL-6, and IFN-g), leading to a reduction in the tumor incidence of up to 71.4% without any adverse effects. In combination with doxorubicin, PFPE-CH did not disrupt the anticancer effects of the drug in rats with mammary tumors. Surprisingly, PFPE-CH reduced chemotherapy-induced toxicity by improving some hematological and biochemical parameters. Therefore, our results suggest that PFPE-CH is safe and effective in reducing breast tumor incidence and toxicity of chemotherapeutic drugs during cancer treatment in mammary tumor rats.

Piper nigrum extract retards tumor growth by reducing tumor-promoted cytokines/chemokines and modulating immune cells in blood circulation

“…In this study, we performed approximately 3 months animal testing to evaluate the effect of PFPE on preventing breast cancer and modulating immune cells in blood circulation for future use in clinical trials. Our study used MCT oil instead of coconut oil that was used in previous study [15] for better solubility as MCT oil contains only medium chains while coconut contains medium and long-chain fat [17]. Vit E is an antioxidant that is used to prevent oil rancidity instead of honey.…”

“…Combining PFPE with the chemotherapy drug (doxorubicin) improves blood parameters and reduces pro-tumorigenic cytokine induced by doxorubicin [14]. A recent study reported that PFPE reduces mammary tumor incidence and chemotherapy-induced toxicity [15].…”

Piperine: Chemistry and Biology

“…A recent study reported that PFPE-CH, a dietary supplement made by mixing a low piperine fractional Piper nigrum extract (PFPE) with cold-pressed coconut oil and honey in distilled water, can help decrease the risk of tumor formation and reduce the side effects of chemotherapeutic drugs during breast cancer treatment. This is promising news for those undergoing treatment for breast cancer [ 13 ]. In the early 1970s, a piperine analogue Ilepcimide was originally extracted from a Chinese folk remedy, which was discovered as a safe and effective antiepileptic drug through structural characterization.…”