The Synergistic Combination of Cisplatin and Piperine Induces Apoptosis in MCF-7 Cell Line

Background: piperine is a natural compound obtained from the piper nigrum that exhibits anti-proliferative and anti-cancer activity in cancer cell lines. we analyzed the cytotoxic effect of piperine combined with cisplatin compound in the human mcf-7 breast cancer cell line and the underlying mechanism. methods: the present in vitro study was performed on mcf-7 cell line in jahrom university of medical sciences between, jahrom, iran from 2016 to 2017. cultured mcf-7 cells were seeded into four groups: a control group (untreated group), a group treated with cisplatin, a group treated with piperine and a group treated with cisplatin and piperine. cell viability was analyzed using the mtt assay method. flow c-ytometric analysis was investigated for apoptosis. the mrna and protein expression of the apoptotic regulators p53, bcl-2, bax, caspase 3 and caspase 9 were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qrt-pcr) and western blotting analysis. results: piperine (20 and 30 μm) in combination with cisplatin (5, 10 and 15 μm) for 24 h synergistically inhibited cell viability of mcf-7 breast cancer cells more than piperine and cisplatin used alone. synergistic anti-breast cancer activities cisplatin (5 μm) and piperine (20 μm) were via inducing apoptosis. piperine (20 μm) and cisplatin (5 μm) for 24 h induce apoptosis strongly through reduction of bcl-2 and increase of caspase 3, p53, caspase 9, and bax. conclusion: piperine in combination with cisplatin could trigger p53-mediated apoptosis more effective than cisplatin alone in mcf-7 breast cancer cells, reducing the toxic dose of cisplatin used in cancer chemotherapy.