title: Immunomodulatory and antitumor activity of Piper longum Linn. and piperine.
abstract: Alcoholic extract of the fruits of the plant Piper longum and its component piperine was studied for their immunomodulatory and antitumor activity. Alcoholic extract of the fruits was 100% toxic at a concentration of 500 microg/ml to Dalton's lymphoma ascites (DLA) cells and 250 microg/ml to Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells. Piperine was found to be cytotoxic towards DLA and EAC cells at a concentration of 250 microg/ml. Alcoholic extract and piperine was also found to produce cytotoxicity towards L929 cells in culture at a concentration of 100 and 50 microg/ml, respectively. Administration of alcoholic extract of Piper longum (10 mg/dose/animal) as well as piperine (1.14 mg/dose/animal) could inhibit the solid tumor development in mice induced with DLA cells and increase the life span of mice bearing Ehrlich ascites carcinoma tumor to 37.3 and 58.8%, respectively. Administration of Piper longum extract and piperine increased the total WBC count to 142.8 and 138.9%, respectively, in Balb/c mice. The number of plaque forming cells also enhanced significantly by the administration of the extract (100.3%) and piperine (71.4%) on 5th day after immunization. Bone marrow cellularity and alpha-esterase positive cells were also increased by the administration of Piper longum extract and piperine.
authors.affiliation: Amala Cancer Research Centre, Amalanagar, Thrissur 680 553, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Sunila
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kuttan
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000470:Alkaloids; D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D052117:Benzodioxoles; D002286:Carcinoma, Ehrlich Tumor / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D031701:Piper; D010880:Piperidines / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides; D012756:Sheep; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000470:Alkaloids; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D052117:Benzodioxoles; D010880:Piperidines; D010936:Plant Extracts; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides; C008922:piperine