Antioxidant, anticancer, and apoptosis-inducing effects of Piper extracts in HeLa cells

Abstract

Objective: Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer as well as one of leading cause of cancer-related death for women worldwide. In regards to that issue, focus of this paper will be on popularly used Piperaceae members including Piper betle L, Piper cf fragile Benth, Piper umbellatum L, Piper aduncum L, Piper pellucidum L. This research was conducted to elucidate the antioxidant, anticancer and apoptosis inducing activities of Piperaceae extracts on cervical cancer cells, namely HeLa cell line. Methods: The anticancer activity was determined by inhibiting the proliferation of cells. Apoptosis inducing was determined by inhibiting proliferation cells and by SubG1 flow cytometry. The antioxidant activity is determined by using superoxide dismutase value and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity. Results: The highest anticancer activity at 24 h incubation was found for P.pellucidum extract (IC50: 2.85 µg/ml); The anticancer activity at 48 h incubation was more than at 24 h for all extracts. The highest apoptotic activity was found for P.betle (12.5 µg/ml) at both 24 and 48 h incubatio. The highest antioxidant activity was also represented by P.betle extract. Conclusions: All Piperaceae extracts have high anticancer activity; longer incubation increase anticancer activity. P.betle extract has the highest antioxidant property.