Planta Med 2008; 74(2): 142-146
DOI: 10.1055/s-2008-1034290
Pharmacology
Original Paper
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Piper cubeba Demonstrates Anti-Estrogenic and Anti-Inflammatory Properties

Jianying Yam1 , 2 , Alexei Schaab2 , Matthias Kreuter2 , Juergen Drewe1
  • 1Department of Research and Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
  • 2VitaPlant AG, Pharmacology Department, Witterswil, Switzerland
Further Information

Publication History

Received: August 23, 2007 Revised: December 8, 2007

Accepted: December 17, 2007

Publication Date:
24 January 2008 (online)

Preview

Abstract

This present study aims to investigate if P9605, an ethanolic extract of Piper cubeba L, exhibits anti-estrogenic and anti-inflammatory properties. We found that P9605 significantly inhibited growth induced by β-estradiol in MCF-7, a human breast cancer cell line. It inhibited aromatase activity, which is responsible for transforming androgens into estrogens. Competitive binding assays also indicated P9605 binding to both human recombinant estrogen a and β receptors. Furthermore, this extract inhibited the activities of cyclo-oxygenases (COX-1 and COX-2) and 5-lipo-oxygenase (5-LOX), also it attenuated the induction of interleukin 6 (IL-6) in differentiated THP-1 cells stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Taken together with our previous results, P9605 possesses anti-androgenic, anti-estrogenic and anti-inflammatory properties. These results support the potential use of P9605 in phytotherapy against benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

References

Prof. Dr. med. Juergen Drewe

Department of Research and Clinical Pharmacology

University Hospital

Petersgraben 4

4031 Basel

Switzerland

Phone: +41-61-265-3848

Fax: +41-61-265-8581

Email: Juergen.Drewe@unibas.ch