Referenced in: none

Automatically associated channels: TRP , TRPV , TRPV1

Title: Piperine, a dietary phytochemical, inhibits angiogenesis.

Authors: Carolyn D Doucette, Ashley L Hilchie, Robert Liwski, David W Hoskin

Journal, date & volume: J. Nutr. Biochem., 2013 Jan , 24, 231-9

PubMed link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22902327

Abstract
Angiogenesis plays an important role in tumor progression. Piperine, a major alkaloid constituent of black pepper, has diverse physiological actions including killing of cancer cells; however, the effect of piperine on angiogenesis is not known. Here we show that piperine inhibited the proliferation and G(1)/S transition of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) without causing cell death. Piperine also inhibited HUVEC migration and tubule formation in vitro, as well as collagen-induced angiogenic activity by rat aorta explants and breast cancer cell-induced angiogenesis in chick embryos. Although piperine binds to and activates the cation channel transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1), its effects on endothelial cells did not involve TRPV1 since the antiproliferative effect of piperine was not affected by TRPV1-selective antagonists, nor did HUVECs express detectable TRPV1 mRNA. Importantly, piperine inhibited phosphorylation of Ser 473 and Thr 308 residues of Akt (protein kinase B), which is a key regulator of endothelial cell function and angiogenesis. Consistent with Akt inhibition as the basis of piperine's action on HUVECs, inhibition of the phosphoinositide-3 kinase/Akt signaling pathway with LY-294002 also inhibited HUVEC proliferation and collagen-induced angiogenesis. Taken together, these data support the further investigation of piperine as an angiogenesis inhibitor for use in cancer treatment.