| Autor: |
Ramos INF; Oncology Research Center, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil., da Silva MF; Oncology Research Center, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil., Lopes JMS; Department of Physics, Federal University of Roraima, Boa Vista 69310-000, RR, Brazil., Cruz JN; Institute of Technology, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil., Alves FS; Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Innovation, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil., do Rego JAR; Graduate Program in Science and Environment, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil., Costa MLD; Institute of Geosciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil., Assumpção PP; Oncology Research Center, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil., Barros Brasil DDS; Institute of Technology, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil.; Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Innovation, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil.; Graduate Program in Science and Environment, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil., Khayat AS; Oncology Research Center, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil.; Institute of Biological Science, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil. |
| Abstrakt: |
Gastric cancer is one of the most frequent types of neoplasms worldwide, usually presenting as aggressive and difficult-to-manage tumors. The search for new structures with anticancer potential encompasses a vast research field in which natural products arise as promising alternatives. In this scenario, piperine, an alkaloid of the Piper species, has received attention due to its biological activity, including anticancer attributes. The present work proposes three heating-independent, reliable, low-cost, and selective methods for obtaining piperine from Piper nigrum L. (Black pepper). Electronic (SEM) and optical microscopies, X-ray diffraction, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies ( 13 C and 1 H NMR), and optical spectroscopies (UV-Vis, photoluminescence, and FTIR) confirm the obtention of piperine crystals. The MTT assay reveals that the piperine samples exhibit good cytotoxic activity against primary and metastasis models of gastric cancer cell lines from the Brazilian Amazon. The samples showed selective cytotoxicity on the evaluated models, revealing higher effectiveness in cells bearing a higher degree of aggressiveness. Moreover, the investigated piperine crystals demonstrated the ability to act as a good cytotoxicity enhancer when combined with traditional chemotherapeutics (5-FU and GEM), allowing the drugs to achieve the same cytotoxic effect in cells employing lower concentrations. These results establish piperine as a promising molecule for therapy investigations in aggressive gastric cancer, both in its isolated form or as a bioenhancer. |
