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)

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).

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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